- Date
- March 29, 1996, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place
- Angoon, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5462EHelio H295
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19960329005539I
- Case key
- 2772
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind conditions.
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 reported he was taking off from water in gusty wind conditions. Shortly after becoming airborne, at an estimated altitude of 15 feet, he said a gust of wing caused him to lose control of the airplane and collide with the water. The airplane's right float was damaged, and begin sinking. The pilot and passenger remained on top of the left float until rescued. The airplane sank soon after they were rescued.
Factual narrative
On March 29, 1996, about 0850 Alaska Standard time, a float equipped Helio Courier airplane, N5462E, sustained minor damage when it collided with the water during takeoff from the sea near the Hidden Falls Fish Hatchery. The Hidden Falls Fish Hatchery is located approximately 20 miles south of Angoon, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot and the sole passenger aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand charter flight was operated by L.A.B. Flying Service, Inc.,in visual meteorological conditions. A company flight plan was in effect.
The NTSB investigator-in-charge spoke with the pilot on March 29. The pilot related that he had picked up a passenger at the fish hatchery, and was attempting to takeoff to the north-northeast. The pilot estimated the prevailing wind to be from the north- northwest at 5 to 10 knots, with gusts to 15 to 20 knots. Shortly after liftoff, at an altitude of approximately 15 feet above the water, the pilot said the airplane encountered a windgust and that he was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane subsequently impacted the water on the heel of the floats, rotated forward, and caught the toe of the floats. The pilot said the right float partially separated from the airplane; the left float remained attached. The airplane nosed down, yet remained afloat. The pilot and passenger climbed onto the left float and awaited rescue.
Rescuers arrived at the airplane approximately 30 minutes after the mishap. When the pilot and passenger were removed from the float, the airplane rolled over to an inverted position. The airplane was towed to shallower water, and eventually recovered.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5462E
- Reported as
- Helio H295
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4300802
- Engine
- Lycoming GO-480-G1D6, 295 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- L.A.B., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- TKE · Tenekke, AK
- Destination
- JNU · Juneau, AK
- Flight plan
- Company 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
- 29
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 250 in this make and model · 2,500 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 345° at 8 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 36 °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 N5462E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.