Helio H-391-B accident near Beaver Creek, Alaska, October 8, 1993
On October 8, 1993 at about 1:35 am local time, a Helio H-391-B, registered N173K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaver Creek, Alaska. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 THE REQUIRED AIRSPEED DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT AS PUBLISHED IN THE PILOT'S MANUAL. A FACTOR IS THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1993 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Beaver Creek, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-391-B · all H-391-Bs on the register
- Registration
- N173K · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE LOST POWER. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD 10 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK AND 15 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT AND THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RUN OUT OF FUEL. DURING HIS ENGINE OUT DESCENT, HE ALLOWED THE AIRSPEED TO DISSIPATE BELOW 65 KNOTS. THE PILOT'S MANUAL STATES THAT BELOW 65 KNOTS, THE SLATS AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOY AND THE GLIDE PATH STEEPENS CONSIDERABLY. THE PILOT MISSED THE INTENDED FORCED LANDING AREA.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Unknown UNKNOWN (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FYU Fort Yukon AK
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,500 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.