# NTSB ANC14CA087: Helio H 250, N333TB, Arctic Village, AK, September 19, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 19, 2014, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Arctic Village, AK - Coordinates: 68.09082, -145.599624 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=68.0908&lon=-145.5996&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 90144 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90144/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90144 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA087 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area, resulting in an inflight collision with terrain during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=4300302), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified; cases with it: [Helio H-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md?model=4300302), [All aircraft, 152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-250, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=4300302), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=4300302), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=4300302), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=4300302), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Helio H-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=4300302), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Helio H-250, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4300302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing from a remote, gravel-covered, 800-foot long off-airport site, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident the airplane had been loaded at, or near the airplane's maximum gross weight limit. He said that shortly after the airplane became airborne, the tailwheel contacted an area of rising terrain causing the airplane to lose airspeed. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain at the departure end of the site, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was departing from a remote, gravel-covered, 800-foot long off-airport site, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident the airplane had been loaded at, or near the airplane's maximum gross weight limit. He said that shortly after the airplane became airborne, the tailwheel contacted an area of rising terrain causing the airplane to lose airspeed. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain at the departure end of the site, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333TB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333TB), registered now, S/N 2530 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HELIO H 250 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Helio H-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-250) (registry code 4300302) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2530 - Airframe hours: 6370 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1B5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 2014 - Departed: Arctic Village, AK - Destination: CRC, CIRCLE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,570 total, 924 in this make and model, 1,503 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.36 inHg - Observed at: PARC, 74 nm away ## 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 20140919018209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140919018209A), Sep 19, 2014: Helio H-250, Circle, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot took off from gravel bar 74 miles NE of arctic village AK. Winds were gusting. Pilot states he never made it out of ground effect. Impacted rising… ## Other investigations on N333TB (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 ANC05LA097](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA097), Jul 7, 2005: Helio H-250 (N333TB), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fracture failure of the main landing gear leg during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse of the main landing gear. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90144. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 838 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Damaged Aircraft (item 2, .PDF, 866 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damaged%20Aircraft-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.