Helio H-295 N920AS

Summary

On 15 August 2002 at about 00:30 local time, a Helio H-295 registered N920AS was involved in an accident near Igiugig, 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.

Date

15 August 2002 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Igiugig, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

59.3708, -154.9750

Aircraft

Helio H-295

Registration

N920AS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Igiugig → Igiugig

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC02LA101

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind/weather conditions resulting in a collision with an embankment during the takeoff run. A factor contributing to the accident was a sudden wind shift to a tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport certificated pilot was departing toward the west from a remote lake in a float-equipped airplane. The pilot said the wind conditions at the time of his takeoff were from the west at eight to ten knots. During the takeoff run, the airplane came up on-step, but the pilot said he felt a wind change from a headwind, to a right quartering tailwind of about eight knots. He reported that he had already passed a point where he could safely abort the takeoff, and he saw the airplane approaching the end of the lake. He said he rotated into a climb attitude and the airplane lifted off the water, but the bottom of the float assembly struck the edge of the lake bank. The pilot pulled the engine power to idle, and the airplane slid to a stop on the tundra.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.