# NTSB ANC15LA004: Helio H 295, N6465V, Nenana, AK, November 15, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 14, 2014, 16:45 local (Nov 15, 2014, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Nenana, AK - Coordinates: 64.899719, -149.167221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8997&lon=-149.1672&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Wright Air Service - NTSB case key (mKey): 90394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90394/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90394 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA004 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that, just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed through about 35 ft above ground level, the engine began to gradually lose power. Unable to restore power, the pilot made a forced landing in an area of densely populated trees. During the forced landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane's engine or systems. The engine was subsequently started and then operated while still mounted on the airplane's airframe. No anomalies were observed during its operation, and the engine produced full factory-specified rpm. ## Factual narrative On November 14, 2014, about 1645 Alaska standard time, a wheel/ski-equipped Helio Courier H-295 airplane, N6465V, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, following a partial loss of engine power after takeoff from a remote unimproved airstrip near Nenana, Alaska. The airplane was operated by Wright Air Service, Fairbanks, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand charter flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 135.The certificated airline transport pilot and two passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Old Minto, Alaska, at about 1640 destined for Fairbanks, Alaska. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on November 17, the pilot stated that just after takeoff, as the airplane climbed through approximately 35 feet above ground level, the engine began to gradually lose power. Unable to restore engine power, he made a forced landing in an area of densely populated black spruce trees. During the forced landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to wings and fuselage. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming GO-480-G1D6 engine, the pressure carburetor was replaced with a Bendix fuel injection system, under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) field approval process. On November 21, 2014, an engine examination was performed by the NTSB IIC, two other NTSB investigators, along with two FAA air safety inspectors from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). Also present was a party representative from Wright Air Service. No anomalies, contamination, or evidence of malfunction was found in any of the engine accessories. The cylinders, pistons, valve train, crankshaft, and other internal components were all without evidence of anomaly or malfunction. At the direction of the NTSB IIC, the engine fuel servo was removed and tested for proper operation. During fuel flow testing, the fuel servo produced a correct fuel mixture at a full-power setting. On December 23, the engine, while still mounted on the accident airplane's airframe, was operated under the direction of the IIC, along with the rest of the investigative team. The engine ran without any observed anomalies, and produced full factory specified rpm. A drop of about 25 rpm was noted for the left and right magnetos. A series of power adjustments from idle to full power were conducted with no hesitation in engine operation noted. The closest weather reporting facility was Nenana Airport, about 23 miles south of the accident site. At 1653, a weather observation from Nenana Airport was reporting, in part: wind from 080 degrees, at 7 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 27 degrees F; dew point 14 degrees F; altimeter, 30.16 inHG ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6465V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6465V), registered now, S/N 1417, built 1969 (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: 1417 - Year built: 1969 - Airframe hours: 12730 - Engines: LYCOMING GO-480 SERIES 295 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Wright Air Service - Registered owner: Bursiel Equipment Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 17, 2014, 14 hours before - Departed: PVT, Nenana, AK - Destination: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: PVT, Old Minto, runway 34, 1,000 × 80 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 15, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,100 total, 60 in this make and model, 5,350 as pilot in command, 360 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 80° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: ENN, 23 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 20141114021279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141114021279A), Nov 14, 2014: Helio H-295, Old Minto, AK, Substantial damage. On takeoff rotation aircraft had uncommanded loss of engine power. At this time no known cause, waiting on further investigation. Ptrs number AL01201500561. ## Other investigations on N6465V (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 ANC05LA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA045), Feb 28, 2005: Helio H-295 (N6465V), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delay in performing a go-around, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. - [NTSB ANC97LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA128), Aug 23, 1997: Helio H-295 (N6465V), Fort Yukon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a swerve and collision with a tree as the pilot continued the takeoff, subsequently jamming the stabilator and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90394. 707 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 273 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425650&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425651&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Evidence Control Form Released (item 3, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425676&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form%20Released-Redacted.PDF - Evidence Control Form Retention (item 4, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Evidence%20Control%20Form%20Retention-Redacted.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 195 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.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.