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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 1985 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Palm Springs, California · Palm Springs
- 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
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.