Hughes 269C accident near Carlsbad, California, June 29, 1990
On June 29, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N1102H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carlsbad, California (Mcclellan-Palomar airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AT A HOVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, California · Mcclellan-Palomar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1102H · no longer on the register · serial 200891
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A HUGHES 269C LOST CONTROL AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. THE PILOT WAS RECEIVING HELICOPTER INSTRUCTION FOR AN-ADD ON ROTORCRAFT CATEGORY RATING. BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED ABOUT 10 HOURS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS HIS FIRST SUPERVISED SOLO. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD TAKEN OFF TO A HOVER AND DISCOVERED THE THROTTLE FRICTION TO BE TOO LOOSE. HE LANDED THE HELICOPTER AND ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE FRICTION. THE PILOT TOOK OFF TO A HOVER AGAIN AND ENTERED A RIGHT HOVERING TURN. DURING THE TURN THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED. THE PILOT INCREASED THE THROTTLE AND THE HELICOPTER BEGAN TO SPIN RIGHT. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,153 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 1,033 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CRQ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.