- Date
- August 4, 1990, 15:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place
- 40 Se Bettles, AK
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N6493VHelio Courier H-295
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19900804030069A
- Case key
- 5303
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure and separation of the #5 connecting rod bolt and cap which resulted in the rupture of the engine housing and subsequent engine fire due to oil spillage, and an inadequately mounted vertical fin/stabilator. A contributing factor was the inadequate maintenance and inspection of the aircraft after a previous accident.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had indicated to bettles fss that he had lost power and that he had a fire on board. The wreckage was subsequently located 40 miles se of bettles. On-site examination showes that the right wing, both ailerons, left flap, rudder, vertical fin and stabilator had all separated from the airplane in flight. Two of the three vertical fin/stabilator-to-fuselage mounts had failed in overload; the third mount was relatively undamaged with the bolt missing and visible elongation of the bolt hole. Engine exam revealed extensive fire damage to the #5 cylinder, the head area having been completely consumed by fire. The rod cap and one bolt could not be found at the wreckage site. Four months prior to the accident major repairs were made to the airframe, the engine nose case was removed and overhauled, and the propeller was overhauled. Aircraft and pilot involved in landing accident on 6/29/88 substantially damaging the aircraft. Lycoming sb recommends engine teardown after sudden stoppage; no record of compliance.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6493V
- Reported as
- Helio Courier H-295 (COURIER H-)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1458
- Airframe hours
- 3,986
- Engine
- Lycoming GO-480-G1D6, 295 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Metheny, James R
- Registered owner
- Vixie Rochester
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1990
- Departed
- Z84 · Clear, AK
- Destination
- Happy Valley, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 61
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 7,765 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 41 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N6493V · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.