Helio H-800 accident near Ogden, Utah, October 20, 1997
On October 20, 1997 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Helio H-800, registered N40013, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ogden, Utah (Hinkley Municipal airport). It was a personal 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
failure of the tail wheel assembly, which rendered the aircraft uncontrollable during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 20, 1997 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ogden, Utah · Hinkley Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-800
- Registration
- N40013 · registry record · serial H-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll, when the tail wheel contacted the runway, the aircraft started to vibrate and directional control could not be maintained. Subsequently, the aircraft ground looped and came to a stop on the runway. Examination provided evidence that the tail wheel assembly failed at a previously repaired weld and separated from the aircraft. No preexisting condition was found that would have contributed to the failure, and an examination of maintenance records failed to reveal when a repair was made to the tail wheel assembly. The tower controller said the landing appeared normal. Winds were calm at the time of the occurrence.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 780 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 567 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,162 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 1996; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLC Salt Lake City UT at 7:40 pm
- Destination: OGD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,300 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:44 pm from ODG
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.