# NTSB ANC23LA082: Helio H-295, N713C, Fairbanks, AK, September 17, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 16, 2023, 17:35 local (Sep 17, 2023, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 67.4381, -147.7772
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.4381&lon=-147.7772&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 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/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 193105
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA082
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193105/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193105
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA082

## Probable cause

The pilot’s encounter with windshear during initial climb out, which resulted in a loss of control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Helio H-295, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/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: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Helio H-295, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/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 reported that during takeoff from a remote site surrounded by trees, he encountered windshear and a gusting tailwind during the initial climb. He said that once the airplane climbed above tree level, the airplane stopped climbing, lost altitude, and then struck a stand of trees at the departure end of the site, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N713C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N713C), registered now, S/N 1438, built 1970 (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: 1438
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 13334.3
- Engines: Lycoming GO-480-G2D6 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Wright Air Service Inc
- Registered owner: Wright Air Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 2023
- Destination: Fairbanks (Nome Creek), AK
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 13, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 10,200 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 10,200 as pilot in command, 264 in the last 90 days, 102 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.06 inHg
- Observed at: AEI, 29 nm away
- METAR: PAEI 170055Z AUTO 09009KT 10SM FEW070 BKN100 14/00 A2906 RMK AO2 SLP846 T01410003 $

## 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 20230916011269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230916011269A), Sep 16, 2023: Helio H-295, Beaver, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot initiated a takeoff at a familiar airstrip that he had operated in an out of many times. The aircraft was within weight and balance limits. The runup…

## Other investigations on N713C (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 ANC12CA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA020), Jan 26, 2012: Helio H-295 (N713C), Old Minto, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193105. 7.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16308065&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16186360&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA082%20Photos-Rel.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.

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