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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

August 4, 1990 · Helio Courier H-295 Courier H · N6493V

40 Se Bettles, AK

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 4, 1990
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Location
40 Se Bettles, AK
Aircraft
Helio Courier H-295 Courier H
Tail Number
N6493V
Operator
Metheny James R
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ANC90FA134

The pilot had indicated to Bettles FSS that he had lost power and that he had a fire on board. The wreckage was subsequently located 40 miles SE of Bettles. On-site examination showed that the right wing, both ailerons, left flap, rudder, vertical fin and stabilator had all separated from the airplane in flight. Two of the three vertical fin/stabilator-to-fuselage mounts had failed in overload; the third mount was relatively undamaged with the bolt missing and visible elongation of the bolt hole. Engine exam revealed extensive fire damage to the #5 cylinder, the head area having been completely consumed by fire. The rod cap and one bolt could not be found at the wreckage site. Four months prior to the accident major repairs were made to the airframe, the engine nose case was removed and overhauled, and the propeller was overhauled. Aircraft and pilot involved in landing accident on 6/29/88 substantially damaging the aircraft. Lycoming SB recommends engine teardown after sudden stoppage; no record of compliance.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE AND SEPARATION OF THE #5 CONNECTING ROD BOLT AND CAP WHICH RESULTED IN THE RUPTURE OF THE ENGINE HOUSING AND SUBSEQUENT ENGINE FIRE DUE TO OIL SPILLAGE, AND AN INADEQUATELY MOUNTED VERTICAL FIN/STABILATOR. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT HAD INDICATED TO BETTLES FSS THAT HE HAD LOST POWER AND THAT HE HAD A FIRE ON BOARD. THE WRECKAGE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY LOCATED 40 MILES SE OF BETTLES. ON-SITE EXAMINATION SHOWES THAT THE RIGHT WING, BOTH AILERONS, LEFT FLAP, RUDDER, VERTICAL FIN AND STABILATOR HAD ALL SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT. TWO OF THE THREE VERTICAL FIN/STABILATOR-TO-FUSELAGE MOUNTS HAD FAILED IN OVERLOAD; THE THIRD MOUNT WAS RELATIVELY UNDAMAGED WITH THE BOLT MISSING AND VISIBLE ELONGATION OF THE BOLT HOLE. ENGINE EXAM REVEALED EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE #5 CYLINDER, THE HEAD AREA HAVING BEEN COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY FIRE. THE ROD CAP AND ONE BOLT COULD NOT BE FOUND AT THE WRECKAGE SITE. FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT MAJOR REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE AIRFRAME, THE ENGINE NOSE CASE WAS REMOVED AND OVERHAULED, AND THE PROPELLER WAS OVERHAULED. AIRCRAFT AND PILOT INVOLVED IN LANDING ACCIDENT ON 6/29/88 SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT. LYCOMING SB RECOMMENDS ENGINE TEARDOWN AFTER SUDDEN STOPPAGE; NO RECORD OF COMPLIANCE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:05 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHelio Courier H-295 Courier H
Tail NumberN6493V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMetheny James R
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · GO-480-G1D6 · Reciprocating · 295
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 fatalities)
Fatal3
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 61 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 41 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data