# NTSB ERA11CA364: Helio H-295, N99PM, Brasstown, NC, June 25, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 25, 2011, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Brasstown, NC - Coordinates: 35.052776, -83.938056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0528&lon=-83.9381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report November 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80904 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA364 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80904/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80904 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA364 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Helio H-295, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=4300802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While the flight was descending for landing, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot was able restore engine power for a few seconds, but the engine then sputtered and lost power again. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, so he set up a glide for the airstrip he was descending to. There was a headwind and, when he realized he could not make the airstrip, the pilot performed a forced landing in a field. The airplane's landing gear struck the top of a tree and the airplane pitched down and impacted the ground, where it sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and tail. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed that all of the fuel tanks were devoid of fuel and only three drops of fuel were discovered in the carburetor and fuel supply line. The pilot stated that there was no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction of the airplane or engine. ## Factual narrative While descending for landing the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot was able restore engine power for a few seconds but it then sputtered and lost power again. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, so he set up a glide for the airstrip he was descending to. There was a headwind and when he realized he could not make the airstrip, the pilot performed a forced landing in a field. The airplane's landing gear struck the top of a tree, and the airplane pitched down and impacted the ground sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and tail. Examination of the airplane and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that, all of the fuel tanks were devoid of fuel and only three drops of fuel were discovered in the carburetor and fuel supply line. There was no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunction of the airplane or engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99PM), registered now, S/N 1208, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HELIO H-295 - Registry model: [Helio H-295](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-h-295) (registry code 4300802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-480 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-480-series) (registry code 41527, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1208 - Airframe hours: 2546 - Engines: LYCOMING GO-480-G1D6 295 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gary Schmitt - Registered owner: G-Dawg LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2011 - Departed: 1A5, Franklin, NC - Destination: Brasstown, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 25, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 5,863 total, 341 in this make and model, 5,863 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 37 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: RHP, 10 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 20110625013969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110625013969A), Jun 25, 2011: Helio H-295, Brasstown, NC, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed (1A5) macon county, NC airport enroute to Payne Airstrip, Brasstown, NC.at 6500 ft the engine begin to loose power and quit. Pilot was able… ## Other investigations on N99PM (3) 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 ERA09CA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA165), Feb 9, 2009: Helio H-295 (N99PM), Clemson, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind. - [NTSB LAX78FUJ09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78FUJ09), Nov 8, 1977: Helio Acft H-295 (N99PM), Scottsdale, AZ, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC7KFNA44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC7KFNA44), May 23, 1975: Helio Acft H295 (N99PM), Forge Village, MA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80904. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350896&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 4, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350897&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo of Airplane Damage (FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(FAA)-Master.PDF 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.