Para-Tech Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clarkson, New York 14430
Thursday, May 18, 1995 19:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH THREE PASSENGERS. THE ENGINE START, TAXI, AND INITIAL TAKEOFF WERE NORMAL. AS THE AIRPLANE FLEW OVER THE END OF THE RUNWAY AT 50 TO 75 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT, DUE TO TREES DIRECTLY AHEAD. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE ENGINE FUEL PUMP, MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 1978, HAD FAILED DUE TO A WORN ROD SLOT AND LINK ARM. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE MANUAL DID NOT DIRECT OR DISCUSS THE USE OF THE BOOST PUMP, AND THE BOOST PUMP HAD NOT BEEN TURNED ON FOR THIS FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the engine fuel pump, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power over an unsuitable landing area. Factors relating to the accident were: the airplane manufacture did not list the use of the installed electric boost pumps, nor did the pilot turn on the boost pump, once the engine lost power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/18/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CLARKSON
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14430
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PARA-TECH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8NY8
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 403
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1900 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 316
Weather Observation Facility ID ROC
Elevation of weather observation facility 560
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 881
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 19 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5460E
NTSB Number NYC95LA112
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Helio
Aircraft Model H-250
Aircraft Series Identifier H-250
Aircraft Serial Number 2517
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 17 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 2800
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LELAND C. HURD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5 WALNUT HILL DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SPENCERPORT
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14559
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 8NY8
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1910
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 1600
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --