Bellanca 7GCBC N50476

Summary

On 30 June 2025 at about 03:00 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N50476 was involved in an accident near Helena, Montana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 June 2025 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Helena, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Helena Regional Airport (HLN)

Coordinates

46.6058, -111.9799

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N50476

Category

Airplane

Year built

1979

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR25LA194

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the flare to a landing on the runway, the sun was directly in his eyes. The pilot unintentionally maneuvered the airplane sideways to the runway. The airplane ground looped, and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.