Robinson Helicopter CO R66 accident near Ekalaka, Montana, October 23, 2025
On October 23, 2025, a 2014 Robinson Helicopter CO R66, registered N67GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ekalaka, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2025
- Place
- Ekalaka, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robinson Helicopter CO R66, built 2014
- Registration
- N67GA · registry record · serial 0485
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 22, 2025, about 1830 mountain daylight time, a Robinson Helicopter Co. R66, N67GA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ekalaka, Montana. The pilot and 3 passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A friend of the accident pilot reported that about 1818, they departed from a private ranch located south of Ekalaka as a flight of two, which consisted of the accident helicopter and a Cessna 182. After takeoff, the friend queried the accident pilot if he was going to go direct to Ekalaka, and he replied that they were going to fly over the Chalk Buttes on the way to Ekalaka Airport (97M), Ekalaka. The friend offset his route of flight toward the Chalk Buttes and observed the helicopter off his left side and about 1/8th mile in trail at an altitude about the same height as the Chalk Buttes. Just after entering the southwest end of the Chalk Buttes, the accident pilot transmitted that they were going to fly around the set of buttes off their left. The friend then observed the helicopter fly through a gap in the rocks and made a right turn towards the Cessna 182. The friend reported that the helicopter fell back in trail about 1/2 to 1 mile behind him, which was the last time he had visual contact with the helicopter. Approximately 1 minute later, the friend did not see the helicopter on ADS-B and despite multiple attempts, he was unable to establish radio contact with the accident pilot. A witness, who was located about 3/4 mile southeast of the accident site reported that she was inside her residence when she heard the helicopter and airplane overflying her location and went to a nearby window to look. She stated that while looking to the north-northwest, she observed the helicopter flying low over the Buttes from left to right with the airplane in trail. She stated that the helicopter then began to gain altitude, and something came off it, after which it descended out of her line of sight. Examination of the accident site revealed that the helicopter impacted an open field adjacent to a wooded area within the Chalk Buttes range at an elevation of 3,779 ft mean sea level. The helicopter came to rest on its left side, on a heading of 093°. The wreckage debris area was located southwest of the main wreckage and was about 300 ft wide by 300 ft long. The debris area contained fragments of Plexi glass, the left front and rear doors, tailrotor driveshaft cover, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, tailrotor, and the pilot side GPS mount. (See figure 1.) Figure 1: Accident site and approximate debris area. (Photo courtesy of Rolls Royce.) The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during unknown defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute
The aircraft
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from KBHK, 39 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBHK 230051Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 06/M01 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP203 T00611006=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N67GA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.