# Accident 20090313046889A: Helio H-295, Healy, AK, March 13, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 13, 2009, 16:00 local time
- Place: Healy, AK
- Airport: Stampede
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: HYTA
- Location: 63.7486° N, 150.3294° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.7486&lon=-150.3294&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6478V, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6478V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Helio H-295 (registry code 4300802, https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-295) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming GO-480 series (registry code 41527, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HELIO H-295
- Reported engine: LYCOMING GO-480 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC09LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA023) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090313046889A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MARCH 13, 2009, ABOUT 1600 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A SKI-EQUIPPED HELIO H-295 AIRPLANE, N6478V, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE LAYING DOWN TRACKS ON SNOW-COVERED TERRAIN PRIOR TO LANDING, AT THE STAMPEDE AIRSTRIP, ABOUT 42 MILES WEST OF HEALY, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY WRIGHT AIR SERVICE, INC., FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR), ON-DEMAND PASSENGER FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 135, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, ABOUT 1510. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) ON MARCH 14, THE PILOT SAID HE WAS LAYING DOWN TRACKS IN THE SNOW ON THE AIRSTRIP PRIOR TO LANDING. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE SNOW AS EXPECTED, BUT THE WINGS ENCOUNTERED HIGH BRUSH, AND HE PULLED BACK ON THE ELEVATOR CONTROL TO ACCELERATE THE CLIMB. HE SAID AS HE DID SO, HE BELIEVED THE TAIL SKI CONTACTED THE SNOW AND DRAGGED THE AIRPLANE DOWN INTO THEBRUSH. THE PILOT SAID THERE WERE NO KNOWN MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE FUSELAGE AND EMPENNAGE SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DURING THE ENCOUNTER WITH BRUSH AND TERRAIN.

## 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 ANC09LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09LA023), Mar 14, 2009: Helio H-295 (N6478V), Healy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delay in initiating a climb while he was packing snow with the airplane's skis in preparation for landing, resulting in a collision with brush.

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.

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