20030707037119A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Helio H391B · Big Lake, AK · July 7, 2003

Date: July 7, 2003 · 15:09 local
Place: Big Lake, AK
Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N17081
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC03LA070
Reported as: Helio H391B
Reported engine: Lycoming GO435
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,100 total240 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot stated that the aircraft seemed sluggish on take off, and at about fifty feet he noticed a loss in manifold pressure. A gradual left turn was made to avoid a cabin. The aircraft struck tall birch trees and came to rest nose down. The pilot and son escaped uninjured.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED SLUGGISH ON TAKE OFF, AND AT ABOUT FIFTY FEET HE NOTICED A LOSS IN MANIFOLD PRESSURE. A GRADUAL LEFT TURN WAS MADE TO AVOID A CABIN. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TALL BIRCH TREES AND CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN. THE PILOT AND SON ESCAPED UNINJURED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC03LA070Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBig Lake, AKA loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.Jul 7, 2003 · Substantial damage