Helio H-295 accident near Dunlap, Tennessee, March 12, 1991
On March 12, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Helio H-295, registered N42013, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dunlap, Tennessee. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN A GROUND LOOP/SWERVE. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dunlap, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-295 · all H-295s on the register
- Registration
- N42013 · registry record · serial 1256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO DEMONSTRATE THE CAPABILITIES OF THE HELIO H-295 TO A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT. AFTER LOADING THE PASSENGERS THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF FROM A CONFINED AREA BEHIND A MANUFACTURING PLANT. SINCE THE PILOT HAD PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED THE AREA, HE WAS CERTAIN THAT A SAFE TAKEOFF WAS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE FAILED TO CORRECT FOR THE LEFT CROSSWIND. AS THE AIRPLANE PASSED THE PLANT, THE LEFT WING CAME UP AND THE RIGHT WING DRAGGED IN THE DIRT. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND IT CAME TO REST 90 DEGREES RIGHT OF THE TAKEOFF HEADING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND AS HE APPROACHED THE PLANT. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 9,999 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 18,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dunlap TN at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 9:51 pm from CHA, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.