Helio H-250 accident near Clarkson, New York, May 18, 1995
On May 18, 1995 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Helio H-250, registered N5460E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Clarkson, New York (Para-Tech airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the engine fuel pump, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power over an unsuitable landing area. Factors relating to the accident were: the airplane manufacture did not list the use of the installed electric boost pumps, nor did the pilot turn on the boost pump, once the engine lost power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1995 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Clarkson, New York · Para-Tech
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-250 · all H-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5460E · no longer on the register · serial 2517
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH THREE PASSENGERS. THE ENGINE START, TAXI, AND INITIAL TAKEOFF WERE NORMAL. AS THE AIRPLANE FLEW OVER THE END OF THE RUNWAY AT 50 TO 75 FEET, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT, DUE TO TREES DIRECTLY AHEAD. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE TURN, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. AN EXAMINATION REVEALED THE ENGINE FUEL PUMP, MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 1978, HAD FAILED DUE TO A WORN ROD SLOT AND LINK ARM. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRIC BOOST PUMP; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE MANUAL DID NOT DIRECT OR DISCUSS THE USE OF THE BOOST PUMP, AND THE BOOST PUMP HAD NOT BEEN TURNED ON FOR THIS FLIGHT.
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
- Flight time: 449 hours in all; 91 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 1995; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8NY8 at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from ROC, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Other NTSB records under N5460E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC95LA112.