Helio COURIER H-295 N6493V

Summary

On 4 August 1990 at about 23:05 local time, a Helio COURIER H-295 registered N6493V, operated by Metheny, James R, was involved in an accident near 40 Se Bettles, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 1990 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

40 Se Bettles, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

67.2402, -152.2702

Aircraft

Helio COURIER H-295

Registration

N6493V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Metheny, James R

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clear → Happy Valley

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC90FA134

3 people died.

THE FAILURE AND SEPARATION OF THE #5 CONNECTING ROD BOLT AND CAP WHICH RESULTED IN THE RUPTURE OF THE ENGINE HOUSING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FIRE DUE TO OIL SPILLAGE, AND AN INADEQUATELY MOUNTED VERTICAL FIN/STABILATOR. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD INDICATED TO BETTLES FSS THAT HE HAD LOST POWER AND THAT HE HAD A FIRE ON BOARD. THE WRECKAGE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY LOCATED 40 MILES SE OF BETTLES. ON-SITE EXAMINATION SHOWES THAT THE RIGHT WING, BOTH AILERONS, LEFT FLAP, RUDDER, VERTICAL FIN AND STABILATOR HAD ALL SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT. TWO OF THE THREE VERTICAL FIN/STABILATOR-TO-FUSELAGE MOUNTS HAD FAILED IN OVERLOAD; THE THIRD MOUNT WAS RELATIVELY UNDAMAGED WITH THE BOLT MISSING AND VISIBLE ELONGATION OF THE BOLT HOLE. ENGINE EXAM REVEALED EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE #5 CYLINDER, THE HEAD AREA HAVING BEEN COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE ROD CAP AND ONE BOLT COULD NOT BE FOUND AT THE WRECKAGE SITE. FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT MAJOR REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE AIRFRAME, THE ENGINE NOSE CASE WAS REMOVED AND OVERHAULED, AND THE PROPELLER WAS OVERHAULED. AIRCRAFT AND PILOT INVOLVED IN LANDING ACCIDENT ON 6/29/88 SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT. LYCOMING SB RECOMMENDS ENGINE TEARDOWN AFTER SUDDEN STOPPAGE; NO RECORD OF COMPLIANCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.