# NTSB ANC94LA046: Helio 295, N42DC, Manley Hot Sprg, AK, April 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 8, 1994, 09:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Manley Hot Sprg, AK - Coordinates: 64.650749, -150.900115 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.6507&lon=-150.9001&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2495 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2495/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA046 ## Probable cause FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY A BLOCKED FUEL VENT LINE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER AIRCRAFT PREFLIGHT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel system,vent - bent - fuel system,vent - blocked(total) (cause) - aircraft preflight - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis DURING CRUISE FLIGHT IN SNOW SHOWERS THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE PLANE BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL REVEALED THAT THE FUEL VENT TUBE LOCATED ON TOP OF THE LEFT WING HAD BEEN BENT BACK ALLOWING SNOW TO BECOME IMPACTED THROUGH THE CURVE OF THE LINE. THIS WOULD RESULT IN FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE. ## Factual narrative On April 08, 1994, at 1755 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Helio Courier airplane, N42DC, registered to Wright Air Service, Inc. of Fairbanks, Alaska, experienced a total loss of engine power while in cruise flight approximately 40 miles southeast of Manley Hot Springs, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot-in-command and his one revenue passenger were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage during the ensuing off airport emergency forced landing on a small frozen lake. The 14 CFR Part 135 on demand flight last departed Fairbanks at about 0855 and the destination was the passengers home near the Cosna River. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the mishap site and that a VFR flight plan was on file with the Flight Service Station (FSS) in Fairbanks. The pilot reported that about 25 minutes into the flight light snow showers were encountered and that about one hour into the flight the snow showers became more intense reducing the inflight visibility to about 3 miles. Then while in cruise flight at an altitude of 3500 feet msl and about 10 miles from the destination the engine suddenly stopped with no warning. Carburetor heat was applied, the fuel boost pump was turned on and the magneto's and fuel valve were check but to no avail. Company A&P mechanics were flown to the mishap site the following day. Their finding was that the fuel vent located on the top left wing had been bent back allowing snow to become impacted through the curve of the line. This situation would produce a significant reduction in fuel flow to the engine. Company personnel offered the comment that the vent may have become bent during the removal of snow from the upper surface of the wing by brooming. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42DC-2001-08-15), registration cancelled 2001-08-15, S/N 1454 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Helio 295 - Registry model: [Helio H-295](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-295) (registry code 4300802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1454 - Airframe hours: 2999 - Engines: LYCOMING GO-480-G1D6 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, February 16, 1994, 73 hours before - Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 22,218 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 22,000 as pilot in command, 205 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 315° at 8 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Temperature: 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: FAI ## 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 19940408010559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940408010559A), Apr 8, 1994: Helio H295, Manley Hot Spri, AK, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed on frozen lake. Fuel vent bent. Allowed snow to pack. Reduced fuel flow. Bent by snow removal. ## Other investigations on N42DC (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 ANC01LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA039), Mar 3, 2001: Helio H-295 (N42DC), Clear, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The shifting of engine connecting rod bearings, and the fracture of an engine connecting rod. - [NTSB ANC93LA154](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA154), Aug 15, 1993: Helio H-295 (N42DC), Mt. Deborah, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR LEG DUE TO THE IMPROPER MAJOR REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE GEAR LEG BY SOME UNKNOWN MAINTENANCE PERSON(S). 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.