- Date
- June 30, 1995, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Block Island, RI
- Injuries
- 6 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N316LMHelio H-295
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 8, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950630030519A
- Case key
- 39006
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 failure of the crosswind castering gear to remain locked on the right main gear during the takeoff roll which resulted in directional control not possible.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was departing runway 28. During the takeoff roll, the airplane started tracking left, and the pilot applied right rudder. The airplane turned to the right and the pilot applied full left rudder and brake. However, the airplane continued to the right and off the runway. The airplane crossed a drainage ditch and the left main gear collapsed. The winds reported at Block Island, at 1535, were from 210 degrees at 11 knots. Additionally, the pilot stated, 'goodyear crosswind castering gear unlocked on right wheel and turned full right on takeoff.'
Factual narrative
On June 30, 1995, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Helio H-295, N316LM, was substantially damaged during the takeoff roll, at Block Island State Airport, Block Island, Rhode Island. The airline transport pilot and five passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. There was no flight plan for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated in the NTSB form 6120.1/2:
...Takeoff to west, wind approximately 8 knots, crosswind from left. Using 18 degrees flap, locked tailwheel and left Goodyear crosswind gear locked out. Smoothly applied takeoff power....Aircraft started to track left into crosswind. Applied some right rudder. Aircraft turned 45 degrees to right. Left runway with full left rudder, aileron and left brake. Aircraft continued to turn right. Yanked off power, aircraft turned more than 180 degrees sliding sideways into drain ditch, collapsed left gear....Inspection [of] aircraft right crosswind gear appeared unlocked.
Additionally, under the section of mechanical malfunction failure, the pilot checked yes and stated, "Goodyear crosswind casting gear unlocked on right wheel and turned full right on takeoff."
The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's statement stated,
...While attempting a...takeoff from Block Island State Airport, runway 28, the pilot...stated, a strong crosswind pushed the tail of the aircraft to the left about the time he hit rotation speed. He attempted to correct using what he described as a lot of right rudder, when the aircraft suddenly went to the right and he ground looped. [The pilot] said he remembered locking the tailwheel before beginning his takeoff roll.
The winds reported at Block Island, at 1535, were from 210 degrees at 11 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N316LM
- Reported as
- Helio H-295
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1211
- Airframe hours
- 2,250
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-470, 295 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John Peter Vandersluis
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 1995 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- BID
- Airport
- BID · Block Island State, runway 28, 2,501 × 100 ft, asphalt
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
- 62
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Military, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 32,000 total · 400 in this make and model · 22,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BID
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.