Pilot Debrief

HELIO H391 near Hope, AK — 2019-06-12

Final reportANC19LA027
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Date
2019-06-12
Location
Hope, AK, USA
Aircraft
HELIO H391
Registration
N10CJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a ground loop. Contributing to the accident was a partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a local flight when the engine started to surge and run rough. He attempted to troubleshoot the problem, but was not able to restore engine power and located a precautionary landing site at an abandoned airstrip. During the landing roll, the airplane drifted right, and the right wing impacted vegetation, which resulted in a ground loop and substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination of the engine, airframe, and propeller revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have initiated a landing approach earlier to avoid overshooting.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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