Helio H-700 accident near Shelton, Connecticut, December 6, 1992
On December 6, 1992 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Helio H-700, registered N50DV, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelton, Connecticut. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CHECK THE POSITION OF THE LANDING GEAR BEFORE ATTEMPTING A WATER LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 1992 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Shelton, Connecticut
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-700
- Registration
- N50DV · registry record · serial 201224
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMPHIBIAN AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM A PAVED RUNWAY AND WAS CONDUCTING A WATER LANDING. THE PILOT SAID, 'LANDED ON RIVER...IMMEDIATE PITCH FORWARD TO INVERTED.' THE FAA INSPECTOR'S EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE 'UP' POSITION, BUT THE LANDING GEAR WAS IN THE 'DOWN' POSITION. THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTION CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS 'OUT,' THUS RENDERING THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTION SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS RESET, AND THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED SEVERAL TIMES. ALL LANDING GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS OPERATED NORMALLY.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,141 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,080 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDR Bridgeport CT at 7:10 pm
- Destination: BDR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
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.