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GAA18CA482

2018-08-11 · helena, Montana, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport HLN

N624JC has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (CHEEK JOHN H JR Q-2), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain yaw control and a proper descent rate during an aborted takeoff.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane drifted left. He corrected with right aileron and rudder, but the airplane continued left and he decided to abort the takeoff. He then reduced the engine power, but the airplane landed hard, bounced and both main wheels separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail cone. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 350° at 3 knots. The pilot attempted to takeoff on runway 27. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane drifted left. He corrected with right aileron and rudder, but the airplane continued left, and he decided to abort the takeoff. He then reduced the engine power, but the airplane landed hard and bounced, and both main wheels separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail cone. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Descent rate-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Yaw control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA482.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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