# NTSB ANC02LA089: Helio H-295, N50718, Fort Yukon, AK, August 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2002, 16:30 local (Aug 2, 2002, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Yukon, AK - Coordinates: 66.55989, -145.250518 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.5599&lon=-145.2505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Fairbanks FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55370 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55370/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55370 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA089 ## Probable cause The failure of the axle shaft, which resulted in the separation of the right main tire/wheel from the airplane on landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,axle - failure,total (cause) - landing gear,wheel - separation ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing on a remote gravel strip when the right main landing gear tire/wheel separated from the airplane. He said the right main landing gear leg then dug into the ground, and the fuselage buckled at the landing gear attachment point. The pilot said he examined the right main landing gear axle, and found what he believes was a pre-existing crack where the axle failed. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2002, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Helio H-295 airplane, N50718, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear axle failed during landing at a remote unimproved airstrip, about 124 miles northwest of Fort Yukon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Circle Air of Central, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, at the time of the accident. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at a remote airstrip along Your Creek, about 40 miles north of the accident site. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 2, the pilot said as the airplane touched down, the right main wheel/tire separated from the landing gear. The right main landing gear leg then dug into the ground, and bent rearward. He said the fuselage structure and skin were damaged at the right main landing gear attachment point. He further stated that when he retrieved the wheel/tire, he noted that the axle was broken. The pilot said prior to the accident there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane, but when he examined the broken axle he said he believed the failure was due to an "old crack." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50718](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50718-2018-12-04), registration cancelled 2018-12-04, S/N 1268, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Helio H-295 - Registry model: [Helio H-295](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-295) (registry code 4300802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (registry code 41527, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1268 - Airframe hours: 4332 - Engines: Lycoming GO-480 295 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dawn E. Foster - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 2002, 20 hours before - Departed: Fort Yukon, AK - Destination: Fort Yukon, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 14, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 7,488 total, 291 in this make and model, 7,442 as pilot in command, 57 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020801017099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020801017099A), Aug 1, 2002: Helio H295, Central, AK, No damage. (.19) On August 1, 2002, about 1645 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Helio H-295 airplane, N50718, sustained substantial damage during landing at a… ## Other investigations on N50718 (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 ANC14CA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA082), Sep 16, 2014: Helio H 295 (N50718), Prospect Creek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, in gusty and variable wind conditions, resulting in a collision with terrain. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 7, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55370. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 797 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467918&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Right main landing gear. (Digital Photo) (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Right%20main%20landing%20gear.%20(Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Axle shaft and broken attachment. (Digital Photo) (item 3, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176130&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Axle%20shaft%20and%20broken%20attachment.%20%20(Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Close-up of the attachment point. (Digital Photo) (item 4, .PDF, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Close-up%20of%20the%20attachment%20point.%20%20(Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 4: Close-up of the axle. (Digital Photo) (item 5, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%3A%20Close-up%20of%20the%20axle.%20%20(Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 5: Close-up of the axle attachment. (Digital Photo) (item 6, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40176133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%3A%20Close-up%20of%20the%20axle%20attachment.%20%20(Digital%20Photo)-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.