Helio H-391B accident near Big Lake, Alaska, July 7, 2003
On July 7, 2003 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Helio H-391B, registered N17081, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2003 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Big Lake, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-391B · all H-391Bs on the register
- Registration
- N17081 · no longer on the register · serial 068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot landed a float-equipped airplane on a lake near his cabin. The pilot did not hold a seaplane rating. The pilot said he then began a takeoff toward the south, with about 5,000 feet of available space. During the initial climb, the oil pressure decreased to about 60 psi, and the engine rpm decreased to 3400 rpm. The airplane climbed to about 150 feet and the bottom of the floats struck several tree tops. The airplane then descended to the ground and received damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot said the wind was from the southwest about 3 knots, and the temperature was about 74 degrees. A postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 2002; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-435 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Big Lake AK at 5:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 215° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC03LA070.