Helio H-295 N42DC
3 March 2001 · Clear, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 3 March 2001 at about 17:00 local time, a Helio H-295 registered N42DC was involved in an accident near Clear, Alaska, United States. One person was 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 17:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Clear, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 64.1786, -149.4375
- Aircraft
- Helio H-295
- Registration
- N42DC
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Stampede → Fairbanks
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC01LA039
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The shifting of engine connecting rod bearings, and the fracture of an engine connecting rod.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The certificated airline transport pilot reported that while in level, cruise flight, the engine began to run rough and lose power. The pilot said that while performing the engine emergency procedures, he smelled smoke in the cabin, and noted a substantial amount of engine oil on the windscreen. The airplane collided with trees during a subsequent forced landing. A postaccident investigation revealed that the number two connecting rod had sustained a complete fracture. The number 2 connecting rod journal displayed significant amount of heat induced bluing. The fractured connecting rod, main journal bearing shells (7 halves), and rod bearing shells (7 halves) were sent to the NTSB's Materials Laboratory for examination. A Senior Safety Board metallurgist reported that the separated connecting rod displayed evidence of low cycle, high stress fatigue cracking. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination of the rod bearing shells disclosed pitting, with irregular-shape metal particles embedded on the surface of the bearing material. The area around the pits showed evidence of metallic flow from the pits.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Helio H-295 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Aug 2002 | Helio H-295 | Igiugig, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 2002 | Helio H-295 | Fort Yukon, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Oct 2000 | Helio H-295 | Port Alsworth, Alaska, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 2000 | Helio H-295 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2004 | Helio H-295 | La Campa, Honduras | Michael J. Hines | Fatal | 1 |
| 28 Feb 2005 | Helio H-295 | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Sep 2001 | Piper PA-12 | Tok, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2001 | Freeman GLASTAR | Glennallen, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Aug 2001 | Piper PA-18-135 | Palmer, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jul 2001 | Piper PA-16 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 2001 | Sikorsky S61A | Wrangell, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Cessna 150 | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |