Helio H-295 N6465V

Summary

On 23 August 1997 at about 23:00 local time, a Helio H-295 registered N6465V, operated by Wright Air Service, was involved in an accident near Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States. 3 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.

Date

23 August 1997 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

66.5601, -145.2509

Aircraft

Helio H-295

Registration

N6465V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wright Air Service

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Arctic Village → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC97LA128

Nobody was injured.

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a swerve and collision with a tree as the pilot continued the takeoff, subsequently jamming the stabilator and causing the plane to crash in water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

An on-demand passenger flight was departing a 1,000 foot long gravel bar in a southbound direction from a remote area of a river. The area had been used by the operator in the past. The pilot was picking up two passengers from a river float trip. During the takeoff run, the airplane had just attained flying speed, and suddenly veered to the right. The airplane lifted off, and attained a nose high pitch attitude. The tail struck a tree along the edge of the gravel bar, jamming the stabilator. The pilot pushed forward on the flight controls, but was unable to lower the nose of the airplane. The airplane climbed to about 100 feet above the ground, then stalled and descended toward the river. Subsequently, it collided with the river and came to rest in about 3 feet of water. The airplane received damage to the right main landing gear, elevator, fuselage, and engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.