- Date
- August 11, 2018, 12:03 local (18:03 UTC)
- Place
- helena, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N624JCQac Quickie
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2020
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180811010939A
- Case key
- 98046
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 yaw control and a proper descent rate during an aborted takeoff.
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, shortly after takeoff, the airplane drifted left. He corrected with right aileron and rudder, but the airplane continued left, and he decided to abort the takeoff. He then reduced the engine power, but the airplane landed hard and bounced, and both main wheels separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail cone. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane drifted left. He corrected with right aileron and rudder, but the airplane continued left and he decided to abort the takeoff. He then reduced the engine power, but the airplane landed hard, bounced and both main wheels separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail cone. 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 the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 3 knots. The pilot attempted to takeoff on runway 27.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N624JC
- Reported as
- Qac Quickie (Q2)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 2838
- Built
- 1988
- Airframe hours
- 189.5
- Engine
- Suburu EJ 25 Turbo, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · May 5, 2017
- Departed
- HLN · helena, MT
- Destination
- CXO · Houston, TX
- Airport
- HLN · Helena Rgnl, runway 27, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Satellite tracking device
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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 1, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 550 total · 0 in this make and model · 450 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KHLN, 1 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 971 KB 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.