# NTSB ANC85LA019: Helio H-250, N5450E, Anchorage, AK, November 1, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 1, 1984, 00:02 local (04:02 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.220443, -149.849639 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2204&lon=-149.8496&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 5 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4447
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4447/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA019

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - climb - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED DURING TWO TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS THAT HE HIT TREES DURING TAKEOFF AND THEN CONTINUED HIS TWO HOUR FLT TO TO THE HOMER ARPT. THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WERE CRUSHED ANDBENT UP ABOUT 19 DEGREES. THE ACFT WAS LANDED AT HOMER WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5450E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5450E), registered now, S/N 2507 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Helio H-250
- Registry model: [Helio H-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-250) (registry code 4300302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2507
- Airframe hours: 1350
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540 250 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard Sutherland
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1984, 40 hours before
- Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK
- Destination: HOM, HOMER, AK
- Airport: MRI, Merrill, runway 15, 2,469 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 357 total, 282 in this make and model, 330 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19841101064669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841101064669A), Nov 1, 1984: Helio H250, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck trees on takeoff. Continued to destination. Damage to wing and stabilizers. Expired medical.

## Other investigations on N5450E (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 ANC89LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA171), Sep 21, 1989: Helio H-250 (N5450E), Near Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY THE PILOT AND HIS CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: DARKNESS AND ADVERSE WEATHER…

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.