# NTSB NYC73FIJ16: Helio Acft H-295, N6479V, Durbin, WV, January 22, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 22, 1973
- Place: Durbin, WV · DURBIN, WV
- Location: 38.5474° N, 79.8280° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Durbin, WV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5474&lon=-79.8280&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 21, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169533
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC73FIJ16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73FIJ16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0087  73/1/22    DURBIN,W VA         HELIO ACFT H-295    CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 51, 280
        TIME - 1745                    N6479V              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 150 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          GASTONIA,NC                 ATLANTA,GA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - ATTEMPTED OPERATION BEYOND EXPERIENCE/ABILITY LEVEL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
           WEATHER - RAIN
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    2600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- REPEATED ATTMPTS BY ATC TO VECT ACFT TO AN ARPT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.FLT CONT FOR 5HR 45MINS-FUEL EX.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6479V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6479V-2013-08-06), registration cancelled 2013-08-06, S/N 1433, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HELIO ACFT 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19730122001689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730122001689A), Jan 22, 1973: Helio H295, Durbin, WV, Substantial damage. Repeated attmpts by ATC to vect acft to an arpt were unsuccessful. Flt cont for 5HR 45MINS-fuel ex.

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.