Helio H700 N4059H
26 March 1995 · Deadhorse, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 26 March 1995 at about 20:44 local time, a Helio H700 registered N4059H, operated by Forty (40) Mile Air Ltd., was involved in an accident near Deadhorse, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:44
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Deadhorse, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- Deadhorse (SCC)
- Coordinates
- 70.4298, -149.2891
- Aircraft
- Helio H700
- Registration
- N4059H
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Forty (40) Mile Air Ltd.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Finn Creek → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC95LA039
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Probable cause
AN OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR RETENTION/LIMIT CABLE BRACKET BOLTS AND INSTALLATION OF NON-STANDARD BOLT HARDWARE BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT, WITH THREE PASSENGERS, WAS DEPARTING A REMOTE AIRSTRIP ON THE RETURN PORTION OF AN ON-DEMAND CHARTER FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANE, EQUIPPED WITH WHEEL/SKIS, WAS BEING OPERATED WITH THE SKIS RETRACTED FROM A SNOW COVERED STRIP THAT WAS ABOUT 850 FEET LONG. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SKI CONTACTED THE SNOW, SLOWING THE AIRPLANE'S ACCELERATION AND PRODUCING A PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER CONTROL AND LEFT BRAKE PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. NEAR THE END OF THE TAKEOFF AREA, THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE, HOWEVER, IT SETTLED SLIGHTLY AND THE RIGHT GEAR SKI TIP CONTACTED THE SNOW. THE RIGHT SKI MECHANISM WAS TORN FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO PROCEED TO AN AIRPORT WHERE EMERGENCY RESCUE EQUIPMENT WAS AVAILABLE. DURING TOUCH DOWN AT THE DESTINATION RUNWAY, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE FORWARD SKI LIMIT-CABLE BRACKET BOLTS WERE FOUND SHEARED. THREE OF THE BOLTS WERE NON-STANDARD HARDWARE INSTALLED BEFORE THE OPERATOR PURCHASED THE SKIS. THE LIMIT CABLE PREVENTS THE SKI TIP FROM PIVOTING DOWNWARD.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Apr 1995 | Cessna 180B | Cantwell, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 May 1995 | Cessna 150 | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Alaska Air Academy | Fatal | 1 |
| 3 Jun 1995 | Piper J3C-65 | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 May 1995 | Piper PA-18 | Chugiak, Alaska, United States | Peter J. Kust | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Jun 1995 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Nondalton, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 5 |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-31 | Valdez, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |