LAX85LA127

NTSB accident investigation · Helio H-295 · Lower Lake, CA · January 30, 1985

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: January 30, 1985, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC)
Place: Lower Lake, CA
Injuries: 3 uninjured
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Landing
Aircraft: N269EHelio H-295
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19850130001389A
Case key: 24645

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Main gear collapsedLanding - flare/touchdown

Aborted takeoff - performedPilot in commandFactor

Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Landing gear,main gear - overload

Analysis

Plt attempted to abort a takeoff as the acft became airborne at aprx 40 mph. The right main gear collapsed when the acft touched down while it was yawed to the left.

Aircraft

Registration: N269E
Reported as: Helio H-295
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 1292
Airframe hours: 3,434
Engine: Lycoming GO-480-G1D6, 295 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Arlin Dean Merrick
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · January 1, 1985 · 5 hours before
Departed: 209
Airport: 209 · Pearce Field, runway 30, 2,485 × 50 ft, asphalt

N269ERegistration cancelled Jun 8, 2018 · Helio H-295S/N 1292 · Built 1968 Airframe modelHelio H-295 Engine modelLycoming GO-480 seriesReciprocating

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 50
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 463 total · 12 in this make and model · 373 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 300° at 7 knots
Visibility: 30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 37 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: UKI, 29 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19850130001389AHelio H295 · Lower Lake, CAAborted takeoff after liftoff at 40 mph over controlled roll. Did not control yaw, landed sideways, collapsed gear.Jan 30, 1985 · N269E · Substantial damage