Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Tuesady, July 19, 1983 18:35 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

TAKEOFF WAS FROM A DIRT DRIVEWAY WHICH HAD A USABLE LENGTH 0F 330 FT BEFORE IT CURVED NORTH. BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE PLT HADBENT SEVERAL SMALL TREES BACK AWAY FROM THE DRIVEWAY & TIED THEM DOWN SO THEY WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE TAKEOFF. THERE ARE NUMEROUS TREES SURROUNDING THE AREA, WITH AN OPENING AT THE DEPARTURE END OF AOUT 40 FT WIDE. THE WINGSPAN OF THE ACFT WAS 38 FT 6 INCHES. AS THE PLT TRIED TO FLY THRUUGH THE OPENING, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A TALL TREE & THE LEADING EDGE SLAT SEPARATED. THE ACFT ROLLED & CRASHED INVERTED ONTO A GUARD RAIL OF AN ADJACENT HIGHWAY. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMOBILE RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ATTACHING BRACKET WAS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE BENCHSEAT. THE SHOULDER HARNESS STRAP CAME LOOSE FROM THAT ATTACHING POINT DURING THE CRASH SEQUENCE. THE ACFT HAD BEEN REPORTEDLY REBUILT BY THE PLT WHO IS NOT AN A&P. THERE WERE RIVETS MISSING IN THE VERTICAL STABILIZER, & WHERE HOLES DIDN'T MATCH UP, NEW ONES WERE DRILLED & SCREWED TOGETHER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/19/1983
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1835
Event Time Zone --
Event City FAIRBANKS
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99701
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 7
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 6
Degrees magnetic from airport 340
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 160
Weather Observation Facility ID FAI
Elevation of weather observation facility 434
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2600
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 22905
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4156D
NTSB Number ANC83FA126
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 H395
Aircraft Series Identifier H395
Aircraft Serial Number 508
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Unknown
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JACK H. FREEMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address S.R. BOX 40023
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99701
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 Yes - certificate holder
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1835
Departure Time Zone ADT
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 10:36AM
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 --