Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dunlap, Tennessee 37327
Tuesady, March 12, 1991 16:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE CAPABILITIES OF THE HELIO H-295 TO A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT. AFTER LOADING THE PASSENGERS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA BEHIND A MANUFACTURING PLANT. SINCE THE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED THE AREA, HE WAS CERTAIN THAT A SAFE TAKEOFF WAS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE FAILED TO CORRECT FOR THE LEFT CROSSWIND. AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED THE PLANT, THE LEFT WING CAME UP AND THE RIGHT WING DRAGGED IN THE DIRT. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND IT CAME TO REST 90 DEGREES RIGHT OF THE TAKEOFF HEADING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND AS HE APPROACHED THE PLANT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City DUNLAP
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37327
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1551 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1476
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44268
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N42013
NTSB Number ATL91LA065
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-295
Aircraft Series Identifier H-295
Aircraft Serial Number 1256
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 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MONTGOMERY, LAWRENCE J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 6401
Aircraft Owner City SPARTANBURG
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29304
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MONTGOMERY, LAWRENCE J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 6401
Operator City SPARTANBURG
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29304
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City DUNLAP
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --