Helio H-295 accident near Block Island, Rhode Island, June 30, 1995
On June 30, 1995 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Helio H-295, registered N316LM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Block Island, Rhode Island (Block Island State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the crosswind castering gear to remain locked on the right main gear during the takeoff roll which resulted in directional control not possible.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1995 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Block Island, Rhode Island · Block Island State
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Helio H-295 · all H-295s on the register
- Registration
- N316LM · no longer on the register · serial 1211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 28. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE STARTED TRACKING LEFT, AND THE PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER. THE AIRPLANE TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AND OFF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED A DRAINAGE DITCH AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. THE WINDS REPORTED AT BLOCK ISLAND, AT 1535, WERE FROM 210 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT STATED, 'GOODYEAR CROSSWIND CASTERING GEAR UNLOCKED ON RIGHT WHEEL AND TURNED FULL RIGHT ON TAKEOFF.'
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 32,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 22,000 as pilot in command; 7,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1995; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BID at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from BID
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.