# NTSB DEN00LA073: Helio H-295, N3MA, Albuquerque, NM, April 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2000, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Albuquerque, NM - Coordinates: 35.090011, -106.899368 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0900&lon=-106.8994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48943/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA073 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff initial climb. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The instructional flight was on takeoff roll when a witness observed the airplane's left main wheel and tail wheel exit the left side of the runway at approximately 50 to 70 yards from roll commencement. The airplane left the ground, and rocked from side to side. It then came back down to the runway, and was on the asphalt for 2 to 3 seconds. The witness said that the engine sound of 'full power' never changed. He said that the airplane then jumped back into the air again, and again rocked from side to side like it was going to stall at any moment. He said then the airplane nosed down and hit the runway. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2000, approximately 1315 mountain daylight time, a Helio H-295, N3MA, was substantially damaged following impact with terrain during a takeoff at Coronado Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The airline transport flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The airplane was being operated by the private pilot student under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country instructional flight that was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, but the instructor pilot said that their intended destination was Mesa, Arizona. The flight instructor said that they had stopped at Coronado Airport for fuel and rest. He said that hot start procedures were required to start the engine, and that taxi operations to the end of runway 17 were normal. The flight instructor said that takeoff acceleration was "rapid," but that the student rotated the airplane late. The instructor said that he "heard and felt a power reduction, followed by a surge to increase to (full??) power, followed by a second decrease in power of greater magnitude than the first power loss." He then instructed the student to "put it back on the runway." During the ensuing "hard" landing, the right main landing gear collapsed. An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the engine's firewall was wrinkled and the right wing spar was bent. A witness in an airplane waiting to takeoff behind the accident airplane said the following: "when N3MA release[d] brakes for takeoff, that [the] airplane's left main and tail wheel left the left side of the runway within 50 to 70 yards." He said that the airplane then left the ground and rocked side to side. It then came back down to the runway and was on the asphalt for 2 to 3 seconds. He said the engine sound of "full power" never changed. Next, the airplane "jumped back into the air again, and again rocked from side to side like it was going to stall at any moment." He said the airplane nosed down and hit the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: N3MA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Helio H-295 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1291 - Engines: Lycoming GO-480-G1D6 295 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary H. Hopkins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2000, 8 hours before - Departed: 4AC - Destination: FF2, MESA, AZ - Airport: 4AC, Coronado Airport, runway 17, 4,010 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,895 total, 25 in this make and model, 8,393 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ABQ, 9 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000412028969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000412028969A), Apr 12, 2000: Helio H295, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. (.4)The instructional flight was on takeoff roll when a witness observed the airplane's left main wheel and tail wheel exit the left side of the runway at… 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.