ANC12LA056

The pilot said that due to a strong westerly wind, she elected to takeoff from the east/west taxiway instead of using the north/south runway. Before departure, the pilot paced off her intended takeoff path and determined that she had a 1,200-foot-long, 200-foot-wide gravel surface that was free of obstructions. During the takeoff run, the weight shifted off the main wheels, but the tail of the airplane did not come up, and the airplane did not climb. The pilot aborted the takeoff and applied heavy braking, but the airplane drifted left of her intended path and struck a concrete loading ramp. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Photos provided by first responders revealed that the airplane’s flaps were in the up position upon arrival. The pilot reported that after the accident she did not retract the airplane’s wing flaps. Thus, due to the lack of mechanical anomalies with the airplane, the length of takeoff area, and the postaccident discovery of the flaps in the up position, it is likely that the pilot failed to properly configure the airplane’s wing flaps before takeoff.

On June 20, 2012, about 1420 Alaska daylight time, a Helio Courier H-295 airplane, N295SC, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a concrete barrier while attempting to takeoff from the Happy Valley Airport, Happy Valley, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured, and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to Jago River Holdings LLC., and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight to Fairbanks, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in charge (IIC) on July 6, the pilot said due to the strong westerly wind, she attempted to takeoff on the east/west taxiway instead of using the north/south runway. Before departure she paced off her intended takeoff path, and determined she had a 1,200 foot long by 200 foot wide gravel surface that was free of obstructions, with another 400 feet of gravel road extending beyond her intended takeoff point. During the takeoff roll the pilot felt weight shift off the main wheels, but the tail did not come up, she was not sure if the airplane became airborne. She aborted the takeoff, and applied the brakes, but the airplane drifted left of her intended takeoff path, towards a concrete loading ramp. Just prior to impact she released the left brake and attempted to ground loop the airplane. The airplane turned right, and struck the concrete loading ramp, just aft of the pilot seat. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and stabilator. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. Pictures taken at the scene by first responders, immediately following the accident, indicate the flaps were in the up position. The pilot said the aircraft was not reconfigured after the accident.