Hughes 269A accident near La Verne, California, May 23, 1990
On May 23, 1990 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Hughes 269A (helicopter), registered N8793F, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Verne, California (Brackett Field). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
GROUND RESONANCE DUE TO AN INADEQUATELY MAINTAINED STRUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1990 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- La Verne, California · Brackett Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269A · all 269As on the register
- Registration
- N8793F · no longer on the register · serial 0125A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD BEEN ASKED BY THE OPERATOR TO FLY THE HELICOPTER PRIOR TO THE OPERATORS SIGNING A LEASEBACK AGREEMENT WITH THE REPORTED OWNER. THE INITIAL AIR TAXI TO A HELIPAD WAS ABORTED WHEN THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO OSCILLATE DURING A GROUND RESONANCE EVENT. PRIOR TO THIS ATTEMPT THE OLEO STRUTS APPEARED TO BE OF EQUAL EXTENSION. AFTER THE EVENT, THE OLEO STRUTS WERE LOW AND ONE WAS FLAT. ABOUT 18 DAYS LATER, AND AFTER THE PILOT HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE STRUTS HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT THE OWNER HAD BEEN FLYING THE HELICOPTER AFTER A PLANNED AIR TAXI TO A HELIPAD. THE HELICOPTER AGAIN EXPERIENCED A GROUND RESONANCE EVENT WITH SEVERE OSCILLATIONS TO THE POINT OF DESTRUCTION. THE PILOT SAID HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND DECREASED THE THROTTLE WHEN THE OSCILLATIONS BEGAN. ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND COMPONENTS OF THE HELICOPTER FOR TESTING WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 323 hours in all; 126 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 259 as pilot in command; 14 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: POC La Verne CA at 4:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.