# NTSB ANC20CA092: Helio H 295, N68857, Fairbanks, AK, September 10, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 10, 2020, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 65.397333, -147.84605 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.3973&lon=-147.8460&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101966/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA092 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to initiate a right turn immediately after departure and his failure to maintain a proper crosswind correction, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Helio H-295, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during takeoff, in gusty wind conditions, from a remote unimproved airstrip that was located along a river, the takeoff roll was normal. After the airplane became airborne, he initiated a turn to the right, and the right wing dropped suddenly and impacted a “root wad”. The pilot recovered airplane control after the impact and continued the flight back to the base airport without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68857](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68857), registered now, S/N 1463, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Helio H 295 (No Series) - 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: 1463 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 4310 - Engines: Lycoming GO-480-G206 295 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Wright Air Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Wright Air Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 5, 2020 - Destination: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: runway N/A, 500 × 40 ft, gravel - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,400 total, 800 in this make and model, 7,300 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 120 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 90 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 20200910017919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200910017919A), Sep 10, 2020: Helio H-295, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. During third and final takeoff of the day from gravel bar on beaver creek, after becoming airborne, aircraft encountered gusty wind from left which picked up… ## Other investigations on N68857 (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 ANC16LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA071), Sep 26, 2016: Helio H-295 (N68857), Delta Junction, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to take off from a wet, snowy airstrip and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. - [NTSB SEA92LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA92LA155), Jul 14, 1992: Helio H-295 (N68857), Laramie, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND AN INADVERTENT GROUND-LOOP. FACTORS INCLUDE CROSSWINDS. 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.