# NTSB ANC06LA072: Helio H-250, N6324V, Anchorage, AK, May 20, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 2006, 18:30 local (May 20, 2006, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.372776, -150.260559 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.3728&lon=-150.2606&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 63949 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63949/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control during takeoff, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power, a hard landing, and an on ground encounter with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was an inadvertent ground loop. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, takeoff - aborted - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was departing a grass surface runway on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. The runway was about 3,000 feet long, and about 150 feet wide. The pilot said that during the takeoff run, the engine did not seem to be producing full power. The airplane lifted off to about 10 feet above ground level, but the pilot decided to abort the takeoff and pulled the throttle to idle. The airplane landed hard and began to veer to the left. The pilot said the airplane ground looped to the left, departed off the left side of the runway, and collided with alder bushes. The airplane received structural damage to the right main landing gear, and the left wing and left aileron. The pilot reported that the airplane engine did not have any mechanical malfunction. He said that after the accident, he discovered that the carburetor heat control was in the "on" position. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2006, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Helio H-250 airplane, N6324V, sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway surface following an aborted takeoff from a remote airport, about 14 miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Little Su Lodge, and was en route to Merrill Field, Anchorage. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 21, 2006, the pilot reported that he was departing toward the south on a grass surface runway that was oriented north/south. The runway was about 3,000 feet long, and about 150 feet wide. The pilot said that during the takeoff run, the engine did not seem to be producing full power. The airplane lifted off to about 10 feet above ground level (agl), but the pilot decided to abort the takeoff and pulled the throttle to idle. The airplane landed hard and began to veer to the left. The pilot said the airplane ground looped to the left, departed off the left side of the runway, and collided with alder bushes. The airplane received structural damage to the right main landing gear, and the left wing and left aileron. The pilot reported that the airplane engine did not have any mechanical malfunction. He said that after the accident, he discovered that the carburetor heat control was in the "on" position. The pilot did not submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6324V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6324V), registered now, S/N 2538, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Helio H-250 - Registry model: [Helio H-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-250) (registry code 4300302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2538 - Engines: Lycoming O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John J. Darrah - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Anchorage, AK - Destination: PAMR, Anchorage, AK - Airport: Little Su Lodge, runway 18, 3,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,400 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 20060519012049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060519012049A), May 19, 2006: Helio H250, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 20 ft. altitude, the pilot aborted a takeoff from a 3,000 ft gravel runway because he felt the engine was not developing full power. He… ## Other investigations on N6324V (2) 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 ANC16LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA072), Sep 26, 2016: Helio H-250 (N6324V), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue fracture failure of both main landing gear (MLG) legs during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse and separation of both MLG legs. - [NTSB ANC76AA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76AA042), Sep 28, 1975: Helio Acft H-250 (N6324V), Teller, AK, substantial damage 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.