Incident Overview
On June 20, 2012, at about 1420 Alaska daylight time, a Helio Courier H-295 airplane, registration N295SC, experienced a collision with a concrete barrier while attempting to take off from Happy Valley Airport, Happy Valley, Alaska. The airplane, owned by Jago River Holdings LLC and operated by a private individual under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, was substantially damaged. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured, and the two passengers sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the intended flight to Fairbanks, Alaska.
Pilot's Account
During a telephone conversation on July 6 with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that due to strong westerly winds, she attempted to take off on the east/west taxiway rather than the north/south runway. Before departure, she paced off her intended takeoff path, determining a 1,200-foot long by 200-foot wide gravel surface free of obstructions, with an additional 400 feet of gravel road beyond the intended takeoff point.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot felt the weight shift off the main wheels, but the tail did not rise. She was uncertain whether the airplane became airborne. She aborted the takeoff and applied the brakes, but the airplane drifted left of the intended path toward a concrete loading ramp. Just before impact, she released the left brake and attempted to ground loop the airplane, which then turned right and struck the concrete loading ramp just aft of the pilot seat.
Damage and Configuration
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and stabilator. Photographs taken at the scene by first responders immediately after the accident showed the flaps in the up position. The pilot stated that the aircraft was not reconfigured after the accident and that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies.