Palm Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palm Springs, California 92263
Monday, January 21, 1985 14:05 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/21/1985
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1405
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City PALM SPRINGS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92263
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PALM SPRINGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PSP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 448
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1409 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 448
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 690
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 135
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 22 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27339
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N55XV
NTSB Number LAX85LA118
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Helio
Aircraft Model H-250
Aircraft Series Identifier H-250
Aircraft Serial Number 2520
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 30 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name P.R. PORTER & SON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.BOX 1889
Aircraft Owner City EL CENTRO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92244
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IPL
Departure City IMPERIAL
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PSP
Destination City PALM SPRINGS
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 7013
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --