Helio H-295 accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona, April 19, 1996
On April 19, 1996 at about 4:17 pm local time, a Helio H-295, registered N6470V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Canyon, Arizona (Grand Canyon Natl Park airport). It was a personal 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
the partial failure of the landing gear brake system resulting from loss of the clips retaining the right-hand brake disk. The resulting loss of braking authority impaired the pilot's ability to maintain directional control in a left quartering tailwind and during the developing ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1996 · about 4:17 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Canyon, Arizona · Grand Canyon Natl Park · 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
- N6470V · registry record · serial 1421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff with a 7 knot left quartering tailwind, the pilot raised the tail wheel off the runway at approximately 40 miles per hour and the aircraft immediately entered a left ground loop that full right rudder and brake was unable to stop. The aircraft ground looped through 270 degrees and came to rest about 100 feet off the left side of the runway and 1,000 feet from the departure threshold. The pilot reported that brake disk retaining clips were recovered from the runway and that the right-hand brake disk retaining ring was broken permitting the disk to come out of the wheel.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 577 hours in all; 248 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 528 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,257 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 1996; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1D6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GCN at 4:17 pm
- Destination: CYN Moab UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from GCN
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.