- Date
- August 11, 2018, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Great Falls, MT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N77TRHelio H 295
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180811010959A
- Case key
- 98045
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
The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control of the airplane during takeoff in a quartering tailwind.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff, the right wing lifted "unexpectedly." He attempted to recover, but the left main landing gear sideloaded and collapsed. The left wing impacted the runway, and the airplane rotated to the left 180° and came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 14 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 21.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during takeoff, the right wing "came up quickly (lifted) and unexpectedly." He attempted to recover, but the left main landing gear sideloaded and collapsed. The left wing impacted the runway and the airplane rotated to the left 180° and came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 14 knots. The airplane was departing on runway 21.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N77TR
- Reported as
- Helio H 295 (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2514
- Built
- 1965
- Airframe hours
- 2,830
- Engine
- Lycoming GO-480-G1D6, 295 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 9, 2018
- Departed
- GTF · Great Falls, MT
- Destination
- 1S9 · Chewelah, WA
- Airport
- GTF · Great Falls Intl, runway 21, 10,502 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
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
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 6, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 801 total · 232 in this make and model · 26 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 99 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- KGTF, 1 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.