Hughes 369HS accident near San Pedro, California, August 18, 1983
On August 18, 1983 at about 1:43 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N90958, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Pedro, California (Helipad airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1983 · about 1:43 pm local time
- Place
- San Pedro, California · Helipad · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N90958 · registry record · serial 1280002S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A MISSION TO TRANSPORT COMPANY PERSONNEL & HAD LANDED ON A BARGE THAT WAS BEING USED AS A HELIPAD. THE BARGE WAS ABOUT 250 FT LONG & 75 FT WIDE. AFTER ARRIVING, THE PLT PARKED THE HELICOPTER WITH THE TAIL BOOM AS CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE BARGE AS POSSIBLE. HE THEN REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE & SIGNALED FOR THE 3 PASSENGERS (WAITING BEHIND A ROPE LINE) TO APPROACH THE HELICOPTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED OPERATING PROCEDURES. AS THE PASSENGERS APPROACHED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER, THEY MOVED OUT OF THE PLT'S LINE OF SIGHT. WHILE 2 WERE BOARDING, THE 3RD PASSENGER WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE ACFT, DUCKED UNDER THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & WALKED INTO THE TAIL ROTOR. THE VICTIM WAS TREATED & TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL, BUT SUCCUMBED LATER DUE TO HEAD & SHOULDER INJURIES. A TRAINING PROGRAM HAD BEEN INSTITUTED TO EDUCATE THE PASSENGERS CONCERNING HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH ROTATING COMPONENTS OF THE ROTOR SYS & OFF-LIMIT AREAS. THE PASSENGER HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON 3 OCCASIONS & HAD BEEN A PASSENGER NEARLY EVERY DAY FOR 6 WEEKS.
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
What happened, in order
- PROPELLER/ROTOR CONTACT TO PERSON during standing - idling rotors
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, AME, ASE, helicopter, IAIR, APLN, glider, helicopter
- Flight time: 9,500 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 9,350 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,893 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 14, 1983; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,900 ft; scattered at 900 ft
- Temperature: 73°C, dew point 68°C
- Altimeter: 29 inHg
- Observation at 1:48 pm from LGB, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX83FA393.