# NTSB DEN03LA098: Helio H800, N4035K, Cody, WY, June 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 2003, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Cody, WY - Coordinates: 44.520278, -109.023887 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5203&lon=-109.0239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviaiton Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57145 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57145/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA098 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper preflight planning and his failure to maintain aircraft control when returning to the airport. Factors contributing to the accident were the oil leak, the attempted precautionary landing, and the downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lubricating system,oil filler cap - not secured - fluid,oil - leak (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot reported, "A few seconds after becoming airborne, oil began splashing onto the windscreen and boiling out of the cowling around the oil cap access door." The pilot decided to land immediately. The pilot said he maintained runway heading to gain some altitude, approximately 300 to 400 feet above ground level (agl). He said he flew beyond the departure end of the runway and then made a 180-degree turn back to the airport. The pilot said he lowered flaps and began his descent. At approximately 150 feet agl, the pilot said he encountered "a severe downdraft, which caused the airplane to sink at a rapid rate. Although I immediately added full power, I was unable to overcome the downdraft." The airplane impacted terrain off the departure end of the runway causing substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, undercarriage, and vertical stabilizer. An examination of the airplane showed the oil cap off and the dip stick out. The examination also showed oil streaks around the oil filler door, across the top of the engine cowling, and on the inside of the engine cowling. The weather conditions approximately 5 minutes after the accident were clear skies, 10 miles visibility, and winds at 130 degrees magnetic at 5 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 7, 2003, at 1530 mountain daylight time, a Helio Aircraft Limited, H800 airplane, N4035K, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain 200 feet from the approach end of runway 22 at the Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) Cody, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The 2 passengers on board the airplane reported no injuries. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident. In his written statement, the pilot reported, "A few seconds after becoming airborne, oil began splashing onto the windscreen and boiling out of the cowling around the oil cap access door." The pilot decided to land immediately. The pilot said he maintained runway heading to gain some altitude, approximately 300 to 400 feet above ground level (agl). He said he flew beyond the departure end of the runway and then made a 180-degree turn back to the airport. The pilot said he lowered flaps and began his descent. At approximately 150 feet agl, the pilot said he encountered "a severe downdraft, which caused the airplane to sink at a rapid rate. Although I immediately added full power, I was unable to overcome the downdraft." The airport operations manager at COD reported the airplane took off on runway 04 (8,276 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt). The operations manager said the airplane climbed to an altitude of approximately 300 feet above the ground, when the airplane turned around and crashed. The operations manager said the airplane impacted approximately 200 to 250 feet from the end of the runway, just inside the airport safety zone. The airplane came to rest on its top. An examination of the airplane showed the airplane's cowling was broken off and crushed upward. The engine was broken off at the mounts and canted approximately 30 degrees to the right. The airplane's right wing was broken aft at the wing root. The left wing tip was crushed upward. The main landing gear were broken aft and the underside of the fuselage was crushed upward. The top of the vertical stabilizer and rudder were crushed and bent downward. The propeller blades showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine showed the oil cap off and the dip stick out. Streaks of oil were observed around the oil filler door, across the top of the engine cowling, and on the inside of the engine cowling. The weather conditions approximately 5 minutes after the accident were clear skies, 10 miles visibility, and winds at 130 degrees magnetic at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4035K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4035K-2004-04-19), registration cancelled 2004-04-19, S/N H-6, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Helio H800 - Registry model: [Helio H800](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h800) (registry code 4300500) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-720 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-720-series) (registry code 41546, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: H-6 - Airframe hours: 918 - Engines: Lycoming IO-720-A1B 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Schmidt Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2003, 20 hours before - Departed: COD, Cody, WY - Destination: Soldier's Bar, ID - Airport: COD, Yellowstone Regional Airport, runway 04, 8,276 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review April 9, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 3,154 total, 587 in this make and model, 3,154 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: COD, 1 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 20030607011679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030607011679A), Jun 7, 2003: Helio H800, Cody, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft departed runway 04 at the Cody, Wyoming airport (cod), climbed to about 300 feet, turned back to the airport and attempted to land on runway… 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.