Hughes 369B accident near Fallbrook, California, December 2, 1992
On December 2, 1992 at about 6:12 pm local time, a Hughes 369B (helicopter), registered N5035F, was destroyed in an accident near Fallbrook, California. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE DISTANCE OF THE HIGH TENSION WIRES FROM THE HELICOPTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1992 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Fallbrook, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369B · all 369Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5035F · no longer on the register · serial 711013D
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND NONFLYING CREWMEMBER WERE PLACING MARKER BALLS ON HIGH TENSION WIRES. THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE DISTANCE FROM THE WIRES AND A MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE UPPER GUIDE WIRE OF THE HIGH TENSION WIRES. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE SEVERED THE TAIL BOOM ASSEMBLY. THE HELICOPTER ROTATED AFTER THE IMPACT AND THE TAIL BOOM ASSEMBLY STRUCK THE HIGH TENSION WIRES STANCHION. THE HELICOPTER PLUMMETED, UNCONTROLLED, TO THE GROUND. THE WRECKAGE AND VIDEO TAPE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 5,764 hours in all; 4,207 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 5,560 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,436 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 1992; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Haverfield Corporation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°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.