Helio H-250 accident near Palm Springs, California, January 21, 1985
On January 21, 1985 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Helio H-250, registered N55XV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palm Springs, California (Palm Springs airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1985 · about 10:05 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Palm Springs, California · Palm Springs · cases near this airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-250 · all H-250s on the register
- Registration
- N55XV · registry record · serial 2520
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT BOUNCED UPON LANDING IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR LEG BROKE OFF WHEREUPON THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. INSPECTION REVEALED RUST ON BOTH SIDES OF THE GEAR STRUT ABOUT 6 INCHES BELOW THE FUSELAGE WHERE A BRACE IS WELDED TO THE STRUT. THE RUST AREA WAS HIDDEN FROM VIEW BY PAINT.
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: 527 hours in all; 527 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-GID6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IPL Imperial CA at 9:15 pm
- Destination: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 7,013 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:09 pm from PSP
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N55XV the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N55XV on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Helio H-250 11 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Helio 120 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-GID6 246 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Palm Springs International · nearest airport
- Imperial County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,097 in the last ten years
- California 27,897 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N55XV 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX85LA118.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.