N251CS is a North American F-51D (fixed wing single engine) with serial number 44-74977N, registered in Helena, MT. Its FAA registration is valid and runs until May 31, 2029; the renewal window opens on Nov 30, 2028. It is powered by a Pkrd-Roll V1650 SERIES rated at 1490 hp. Its airworthiness certificate is in the limited class, issued Feb 3, 1958. It is one of 49 F-51D aircraft in the FAA registry, 5 of them registered in Montana. The NTSB accident database lists one record for this airframe since 2008, the latest on May 12, 2026.
Registration
- FAA status
- Valid registration
- Expires
- May 31, 2029
- Registrant type
- LLC
- Registered owner
- SOUTHERN HERITAGE AIR LLC
- Location
- Helena, MT
- Local FAA office (FSDO)
- Helena FSDO (HLN FSDO) · (406) 441-5240
- Certificate issued
- Jan 11, 2010
- Last FAA action
- Aug 4, 2023
- Mode S code (hex)
- A25B78
- Mode S code (octal)
- 50455570
- Official record
- registry.faa.gov
Aircraft
- Manufacturer
- NORTH AMERICAN
- Model
- F-51D
- Serial number
- 44-74977N
- Aircraft type
- Fixed wing single engine
- Engine type
- Reciprocating
- Engine
- PKRD-ROLL V1650 SERIES (1490 hp)
- Engines / seats
- 1 / 1
- Weight class
- Up to 12,499 lb
- Airworthiness
- Limited since Feb 3, 1958
Public airports near Helena
| Airport | ID | Distance | Tower | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena Regional Helena, MT | KHLN | 2 mi | Towered | 100, 100LL, A |
| Canyon Ferry Townsend, MT | 8U9 | 24 mi | Non-towered | - |
| Boulder Boulder, MT | 3U9 | 27 mi | Non-towered | - |
Straight-line distance from the registration city, from the FAA airport directory (NASR). The registry does not say where an aircraft is based.
NTSB accident and incident records
| Date | Place | Aircraft (as NTSB recorded it) | Damage | Highest injury | NTSB no. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2026 | Mound, LA | North American F-51D this airframe | Substantial | Fatal | CEN26FA184 |
From the NTSB aviation accident database (events since 2008, data through Sep 29, 2026), matched by N-number. An N-number can move between aircraft, so each row is checked against the serial number on the current registration.