Hughes 369D accident near Santa Monica, California, August 24, 1990
On August 24, 1990 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N5012A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Monica, California. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO EXIT THE HELICOPTER WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND NO ONE AT THE CONTROLS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1990 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Monica, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369D · all 369Ds on the register
- Registration
- N5012A · registry record · serial 510980D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A SLING LOAD OPERATION, THE PLT LANDED THE HELICOPTER ON THE ROOF OF A SHOPPING MALL PARKING STRUCTURE, THEN EXITED THE HELICOPTER WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AT HIGH RPM TO RETRIEVE THE FRONT DOOR FROM THE BACK SEAT. AS HE STARTED TO INSTALL THE DOOR THE HELICOPTER PROCEEDED TO LIFT OFF AND THE PILOT RAN FROM THE HELICOPTER. IT RAISED ABOUT 10 FT THEN ROLLED OVER. A WITNESS STATED THE PLT TOLD HIM HIS SLEEVE HAD CAUGHT THE COLLECTIVE.
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: rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aris Helicopter INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LAX Los Angeles CA at 1:50 pm
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Observation at 2:30 pm from SMO, 1 miles away
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.