- Date
- March 12, 1991, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Dunlap, TN
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N42013Helio H-295
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910312008159A
- Case key
- 8383
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
Failure of the pilot to maintain control of the aircraft, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve. The crosswind was a related factor.
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 purpose of the flight was to demonstrate the capabilities of the Helio H-295 to a prospective client. After loading the passengers the pilot attempted a short field takeoff from a confined area behind a manufacturing plant. Since the pilot had previously inspected the area, he was certain that a safe takeoff was possible. However, during the takeoff roll, he failed to correct for the left crosswind. As the airplane passed the plant, the left wing came up and the right wing dragged in the dirt. The pilot lost control of the airplane, and it came to rest 90 degrees right of the takeoff heading. The pilot reported that the airplane encountered a gust of wind as he approached the plant. No mechanical problems were reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N42013
- Reported as
- Helio H-295
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1256
- Engine
- Lycoming GO-480-G1D6, 295 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Montgomery, Lawrence J., doing business as Larmont Aviat.
- Registered owner
- Montgomery, Lawrence J.
- Departed
- Dunlap, TN
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
- 73
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 20,000 total · 9,999 in this make and model · 18,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 16 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- CHA, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.