Aircraft Description
N686F is a Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co 500-E, a single-engine turbo-shaft aircraft registered to Ellis LLC in Helena, MT. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on October 4, 1995. The registration certificate was issued on September 24, 2025. The registration is set to expire on September 30, 2032. Powered by a Allison 250-C20 SER engine producing 420 horsepower, N686F is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A919FE (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. The FAA registry record for N686F was last updated on September 24, 2025. AviatorDB monitors aircraft positions through ADS-B surveillance data and updates records as new position data is received.
McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing) was a major American aircraft manufacturer that produced the F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet, DC-10, and MD-80 series commercial airliners. AviatorDB tracks 22 Mcdonnell Douglas Heli Co aircraft currently registered in the FAA database, including the 500-E model.
AviatorDB has found no NTSB accident or incident reports involving N686F. AviatorDB cross-references all FAA registration data with NTSB accident and incident reports, providing a comprehensive safety overview for every registered aircraft in the United States.
Registered Owner
Powerplant & Avionics
NTSB Accident History (2)
| Date | NTSB # | Damage | Highest Injury | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2008 | DEN08FA092 | Substantial | Fatal | The loss of tail rotor effectiveness and the pilot's failure to regain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly in known adverse weather conditions and the gusty winds generated from convective outflow. Contributing to the severity of the injuries was the pilot's failure to provide a safety briefing to his passengers in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations. |
| Jul 1, 1999 | FTW99TA183 | Substantial | Minor | During a practice autorotation, the pilot flared the helicopter too low, which resulted in the tailboom contacting the ground. A factor was the dark night light conditions. |
The loss of tail rotor effectiveness and the pilot's failure to regain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly in known adverse weather conditions and the gusty winds generated from convective outflow. Contributing to the severity of the injuries was the pilot's failure to provide a safety briefing to his passengers in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations.
During a practice autorotation, the pilot flared the helicopter too low, which resulted in the tailboom contacting the ground. A factor was the dark night light conditions.
Additional Details
Data Source
Data provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration. View on FAA.gov
Last updated: 2026-05-01 01:32:20 UTC