Helio H 295 N77TR

Summary

On 11 August 2018 at about 19:00 local time, a Helio H 295 registered N77TR was involved in an accident near Great Falls, Montana, United States. 2 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

11 August 2018 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Great Falls, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Great Falls Intl (GTF)

Coordinates

47.4853, -111.3600

Aircraft

Helio H 295

Registration

N77TR

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Great Falls → Chewelah

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA481

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control of the airplane during takeoff in a quartering tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff, the right wing lifted "unexpectedly." He attempted to recover, but the left main landing gear sideloaded and collapsed. The left wing impacted the runway, and the airplane rotated to the left 180° and came to rest on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 320° at 14 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 21.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.