Helio H800 N4035K

Summary

On 7 June 2003 at about 21:30 local time, a Helio H800 registered N4035K was involved in an accident near Cody, Wyoming, United States. 3 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 June 2003 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Cody, Wyoming, United States

Nearest airport

Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD)

Coordinates

44.5203, -109.0239

Aircraft

Helio H800

Registration

N4035K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cody → Soldier's Bar

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN03LA098

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's improper preflight planning and his failure to maintain aircraft control when returning to the airport. Factors contributing to the accident were the oil leak, the attempted precautionary landing, and the downdraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported, "A few seconds after becoming airborne, oil began splashing onto the windscreen and boiling out of the cowling around the oil cap access door." The pilot decided to land immediately. The pilot said he maintained runway heading to gain some altitude, approximately 300 to 400 feet above ground level (agl). He said he flew beyond the departure end of the runway and then made a 180-degree turn back to the airport. The pilot said he lowered flaps and began his descent. At approximately 150 feet agl, the pilot said he encountered "a severe downdraft, which caused the airplane to sink at a rapid rate. Although I immediately added full power, I was unable to overcome the downdraft." The airplane impacted terrain off the departure end of the runway causing substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, undercarriage, and vertical stabilizer. An examination of the airplane showed the oil cap off and the dip stick out. The examination also showed oil streaks around the oil filler door, across the top of the engine cowling, and on the inside of the engine cowling. The weather conditions approximately 5 minutes after the accident were clear skies, 10 miles visibility, and winds at 130 degrees magnetic at 5 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.