# NTSB DEN85LA011: Helio Courier, N700HC, Livingston, MT, October 18, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 18, 1984, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place: Livingston, MT
- Coordinates: 45.699695, -110.529449 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6997&lon=-110.5294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16591
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16591/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA011

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - compensation for wind conditions - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FSS ADVISED THE PLT OF WIND FROM 250 DEG AT 20 GUSTING TO 30 KTS AND INFORMED HIM THAT RWY 26 WOULD BE THE PREFERRED RWY. THE PLT ELECTED TO USE RWY 22. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE RIGHT WING ROSE IN A GUST BUT CONTROL WAS REGAINED. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AS THE ACFT GOT AIRBORNE THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND/OR THE LEFT WINGTIP STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING THE ACFT TO GROUND LOOP LEFT COLLAPSING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N700HC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N700HC-2000-04-11), registration cancelled 2000-04-11, S/N 1474 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HELIO COURIER
- Registry model: [Helio H-295](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-295) (registry code 4300802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1474
- Airframe hours: 2241
- Engines: LYCOMING 11 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Edward Francis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 17, 1984, 1 hours before
- Departed: LVM
- Destination: BIL, BILLINGS, MT
- Airport: LVM, Mission, runway 22, 5,700 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 822 total, 822 in this make and model, 734 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LVM

## 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 19841018058999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841018058999A), Oct 18, 1984: Helio H295, Livingston, MT, Substantial damage. Lost control on the takeoff roll in a gusty surface wind. Aircraft ground looped and collapsed the right main gear.

## Other investigations on N700HC (1)

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 MIA96FA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96FA130), Apr 26, 1996: Helio H-295 (N700HC), Gaffney, SC, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to remove the control lock during the preflight, and his failure to check the flight controls before taking off.

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.

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