Helio HE29 accident near Lantana, Florida, September 21, 1992
On September 21, 1992 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Helio HE29, registered N6DB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lantana, Florida (Lantana airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR TAIL WHEEL LOCK ON LANDING ROLL OUT, RESULTING IN AN ON GROUND LOSS OF CONTROL (GROUND LOOP) AND COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1992 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Lantana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio HE29
- Registration
- N6DB · registry record · serial 1466
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS ON LANDING ROLL OUT WHEN THE AIRPLANE STARTED TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED LEFT RUDDER WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY AN A&P MECHANIC WITH INSPECTION AUTHORITY REVEALED THE TAIL WHEEL LOCK PAWL HAD FAILED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 980 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 746 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,159 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Circle Star Aircraft, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,451 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 N6DB 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.