Hughes 269C accident near Rialto, California, September 12, 1992
On September 12, 1992 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N58164, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rialto, California (Rialto airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT/PASSENGER'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ROTOR RPM AND THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF THE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1992 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Rialto, California · Rialto · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N58164 · no longer on the register · serial 940348
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD RENTED THE HELICOPTER FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. AFTER PRACTICING SOME MANEUVERS ON THE AIRPORT, THE COMMERCIAL PILOT/PASSENGER ASSUMED THE CONTROLS AND EXECUTED A 180-DEG PRACTICE AUTOROTATION TO A TAXIWAY. THE M/R RPM DECREASED TO 380 RPM. ABOUT 30 FT AGL A POWER RECOVERY WAS ATTEMPTED, BUT THE SINK RATE WAS TOO HIGH. THE TAIL BOOM SUSTAINED A M/R BLADE STRIKE.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 158 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 93 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,899 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 4, 1992; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cari Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 0 at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N58164 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.