Helio H391 accident near Hope, Alaska, June 12, 2019
On June 12, 2019 at about 6:30 am local time, a 1958 Helio H391, registered N10CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Hope, 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
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2019 · about 6:30 am local time
- Place
- Hope, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H391 B, built 1958 · all H391s on the register
- Registration
- N10CJ · registry record · serial 099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,628 hours in all; 225 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,628 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,481 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-435-C2B2-6 (piston); 4,405 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK73 Nikishka AK at 5:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 16 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from PANC, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 18, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Record of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Airframe and Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.