Helmer AVID MAGNUM N124WT
16 May 2006 · Big Timber, Montana, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 16 May 2006 at about 02:00 local time, a Helmer AVID MAGNUM registered N124WT was involved in an accident near Big Timber, Montana, 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 02:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Big Timber, Montana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Private Airstrip (NONE)
- Coordinates
- 46.1686, -109.8883
- Aircraft
- Helmer AVID MAGNUM
- Registration
- N124WT
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Big Timber → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- SEA06CA095
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control after he diverted his attention to close the aircraft's door during the takeoff roll. Factors include a fence and fence post along the side of the runway.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
At the beginning of his takeoff roll, the aircraft door popped open, so the pilot shut it. Then a few moments later, the door popped open again, and the pilot closed it a second time. While he was closing the door for the second time, the aircraft veered off the left side of the runway. At that point, the pilot saw that the aircraft was heading for a gate post and a fence, so he pulled the stick back in hopes of clearing the obstacles. But, the aircraft's left wing impacted the post, and the aircraft spun around about 200 degrees, and came to rest with its right wing entangled in the fence structure. After the accident, the pilot stated that his attempt to close the door had distracted him, and that he should have put 100 percent of his attention on the takeoff, and taken care of the door after he was airborne.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Apr 2006 | Cessna 310R | Billings, Montana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Apr 2006 | Potts MA-5 | Kalispell, Montana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 2006 | Beechcraft A36 | Ennis, Montana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 2006 | Cessna 305A | Lewistown, Montana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Sep 2006 | Cessna 150 | Laurel, Montana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 May 2006 | Cessna 170B | West Glacier, Montana, United States | - | No injuries | - |