Helio H-700 N50DV
6 December 1992 · Shelton, Connecticut, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 6 December 1992 at about 19:20 local time, a Helio H-700 registered N50DV, operated by William Blau, was involved in an accident near Shelton, Connecticut, United States. 3 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Shelton, Connecticut, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Helio H-700
- Registration
- N50DV
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- William Blau
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bridgeport → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC93LA038
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CHECK THE POSITION OF THE LANDING GEAR BEFORE ATTEMPTING A WATER LANDING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
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 THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS RESET, AND THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED SEVERAL TIMES.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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Helio H-700 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Aug 1994 | Helio H-700 | Tok, Alaska, United States | 40 Mile Air, Ltd | No injuries | - |
| 12 May 1984 | Helio H-700-SP | Meridian, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Aug 1992 | Piper PA-38-112 | Salem, Connecticut, United States | American Air Service, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 30 Aug 1992 | Beechcraft A24 | Simsbury, Connecticut, United States | Kenneth R. Skinner | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1992 | Beechcraft A24 | Griswold, Connecticut, United States | Robert Lapre | Minor injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 1992 | Smitrovich SE-5A REPLICA | Harwinton, Connecticut, United States | John W. Smitrovich | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Aug 1992 | Cessna 152 | Plainville, Connecticut, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Sep 1992 | Champion 7KCAB | East Haddam, Connecticut, United States | John S. Hendry | Fatal | 1 |