# NTSB LAX88LA123: Helio HT-295, N68871, Oracle, AZ, March 10, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1988, 11:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Oracle, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.639377, -110.839828 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6394&lon=-110.8398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 9, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 25960
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX88LA123
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25960/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX88LA123

## Probable cause

ENGINE FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper altitude - not selected, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT SAID THAT HE HAD COMPLETED A CATTLE SURVEY AND WAS RETURNING TO THE RANCH AIRSTRIP WHEN HE ADDED POWER TO CLIMB BACK TO PATTERN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE ADDED THROTTLE HE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE TURNED ON THE BOOST PUMP BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT ON THE ENGINE POWER OUTPUT. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE PUMPED THE THROTTLE AND WAS ABLE TO RESTORE LIMITED POWER; HOWEVER, THE POWER LEVEL WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED ONTO THE GROUND, TRAVELING UPSLOPE ON A HILL, AND HIT SEVERAL SMALL TREES WHICH SHEARED OFF THE LEFT LANDING GEAR. A POST CRASH FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRCRAFT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THAT ALL ENGINE ACCESSORIES WERE DESTROYED AND COULD NOT BE FUNCTIONALLY TESTED. NO INTERNAL ABNORMALITY WAS NOTED ON THE ENGINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68871](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68871-2014-12-18), registration cancelled 2014-12-18, S/N 1704 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HELIO HT-295
- Registry model: [Helio HT-295](https://openairdocs.org/model/helio-ht-295) (registry code 4300803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1704
- Airframe hours: 1081
- Engines: LYCOMING GO-480-GA16 280 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Willow Springs Ranch
- Registered owner: Rainbow Leasing, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1987, 37 hours before
- Departed: NONE, ORACLE, AZ
- Destination: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 848 total, 162 in this make and model, 572 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19880310005019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880310005019A), Mar 10, 1988: Helio HT295, Oracle, AZ, Destroyed. Engine failed upon power application to climb from a low level cattle survey. Crash landed and aircraft burned.

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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