MOBILE, AL, USA
N5779N
HELIO HST-550A
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND POWER LINES DURING TAKEOFF FROM A 2000 FOOT LONG OPEN AREA WITH 10 PARACHUTISTS ABOARD. THE PILOT SAID HE EXPERINENCED AN UNSOLICITED ROLLBACK IN ENGINE POWER PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. REPORTEDLY, SOME POWER WAS REGAINED. HOWEVER, NOT IN TIME TO AVOID THE COLLISION. BUT, THE JUMP CLUB CHAIRMAN REPORTED THAT NO CHANGE IN THE ENGINE'S OPERATION WAS OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE MISHAP. WITNESSES AT THE TAKEOFF AREA REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE 12 KNOTS OUT OF THE NORTHEAST, WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE FLIGHT A QUARTERING TAILWIND COMPONENT FOR THE TAKEOFF. ACCORDING TO THE FLIGHT MANUAL, THE MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSSWIND IS 12 KNOTS. THE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO INDICATE ANY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WITH A KNOWN TAILWIND COMPONENT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE TAILWIND, TREES AND UTILITY LINES ON THE DEPARTURE END OF THE TAKEOFF AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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