# Accident 19990720009879A: Helio H395, Igiugig, AK, July 20, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 20, 1999, 15:05 local time - Place: Igiugig, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 58.7494° N, 156.5400° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.7494&lon=-156.5400&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4198D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4198D-2019-01-16) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Helio H-395 (registry code 4300202, https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-395) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming GO-480 series (registry code 41527, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HELIO H395 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 3,500 total, 121 in this make and model, 145 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA095) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990720009879A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT FLIPPED OVER ON LAKE. 21 MILES E OF IGIUGIG, AK. (.19)ON JULY 20, 1999, ABOUT 1530 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT EQUIPPED, HELIO H-395 AIRPLANE, N4198D, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM KUKAKLEK LAKE, ABOUT 18 MILES SOUTHEAST OF IGIUGIG, ALASKA. THE SOLO COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 BY BRANHAM ADVENTURES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, IN SUPPORT OF A FISHING LODGE. THE FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING ON A RETURN LEG TO THE KULIK LAKE LODGE, ALASKA, AFTER DROPPING OFF THREE PASSENGERS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) ON JULY 21, THE COMPANY OWNER STATED THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT ABORTED THE FIRST TAKEOFF, THEN PERFORMED A DOWNWIND WATER TAXI PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING A SECOND TAKEOFF. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE PILOT LEFT THE FLAPS EXTENDED HALFWAY, AND COMMENCED A SECOND TAKEOFF. THE LEFT FLOAT CAME OFF THE WATER, AND THE LIFT WING LIFTED. THE OWNER INDICATED THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT FLOAT DUG INTO TH WATER, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. DURING A PERSONAL INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE IIC ON JULY 22, THE PILOT SAID THAT THE WIND WAS ABOUT 25 KNOTS, AND STRONGER IN THE CENTER OF THE LAKE. HE ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND, AND ABORTED. HE THEN TAXIED DOWNWIND, INTENDING TO TAKEOFF INTO THE WIND. DURING THE TAXI, THE PILOT DID NOT RETRACT THE FLAPS FROM THE 1/2 POSITION. AS HE BEGAN TO TURN LEFT, INTO THE WIND, THE WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD FULL AILERON DEFLECTED INTO THE WIND, AND ADDED POWER TO ATTEMPT TO BRING THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE INTO THE WIND, AND TAKEOFF. HE DESCRIBED THE RIGHT FLOAT DIGGING IN, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSING OVER. (.4) THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A LAKE, WITH A 25 KNOT LEFT CROSSWIND. THE FIRST ATTEMPT WAS MADE CLOSE TO SHORE, IN THE SHELTER OF A BANK ON THE LAKE'S EDGE. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) THAT THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WOULD NOT TURN RIGHT, SO HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. HE WATER TAXIED THE AIRPLANE WITH THE FLAPS SET TO THE 1/2 POSITION, FARTHER DOW NWIND INTO THE LAKE. HE BEGAN TO TURN LEFT, INTO THE WIND, AND THE WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING. THE PILOT SAID HE ADDED POWER, THE RIGHT FLOAT DUG INTO THE WATER, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT INDICATED HE WAS LATE, IN A HURRY, AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TAXIED IN HIGH WINDS WITH THE FLAPS EXTENDED.(-23) ON 07/20/99 A FLOAT EQUIPPED H-395 REGISTERED TO CHRIS BRANHAM AND PILOTED BY ROCKY UNDERWOOD WAS INVOLVED IN A TAKEOFF ACCIDENT AT KUKAKLEK LAKE, AK. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT IT WAS WINDY AND HE ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF IN THE LAKE SHORE. HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO STEER RIGHT SO HE ABORTED. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT HE REALIZED THE FLAPS WERE DOWN AND TRIED TO "SNAP" THE AIRCRAFT FROM CROSSWIND INTO THE WIND THE DOWN WIND FLOAT SUNK AND NOSED OVER. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC99LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA095), Jul 20, 1999: Helio H-395 (N4198D), Igiugig, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the downwind to upwind taxi turn. Factors associated with this accident were the high crosswind, the pilot's improper use of flaps, and… ## Other reports on N4198D (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19730525013209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730525013209A), May 25, 1973: Helio H395 (N4198D), Jackson, WY, Substantial damage. Tail wheel hit pole protruding from pile at flare out during ldg in mtn meadow,good area nearby. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.