Helio H-250 accident near Imperial, California, June 30, 1985
On June 30, 1985 at about 3:53 pm local time, a Helio H-250, registered N55XV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Imperial, California (Imperial 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
- June 30, 1985 · about 3:53 pm local time
- Place
- Imperial, California · Imperial · map
- 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
THIS PLT EXECUTED A FULL FLAP 40 MPH LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR LIFTED OFF THE RWY, & THE PLT WAS NOT ABLE TO LOWER IT USING RUDDER, BRAKES, & AILERON CONTROL. NO ATTEMPT WAS MADE O USE POWER TO REGAIN DIRECTINAL CONTROL AS THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED INBOARD. ALL LANDING GEAR FRACTURES WERE DUE TO OVERLOAD CONDITIONS. THE WIND WAS FROM 30 DEGREES LEFT OF THE RWY HEADING AT 7 KTS.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 576 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 808 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YUM Yuma AZ at 3:40 pm
- Destination: IPL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,304 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from IPL
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.