Hughes 369D accident near Kelso, Washington, May 21, 1990
On May 21, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369D (helicopter), registered N8306F, was involved in an accident near Kelso, Washington. 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO KEEP THE EXTERNAL LOAD CLEAR OF OBSTACLES (TREES). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: FAILURE OF THE PILOT AND GROUND CREWMAN TO FOLLOW SAFETY PROCEDURES, AND THE PROXIMITY OF THE TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kelso, Washington · 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
- N8306F · registry record · serial 380274D
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF WITH AN EXTERNAL LONGLINE LOAD (BUNDLE OF CEDAR BLOCKS). THE BUNDLE STRUCK TREE BRANCHES IN THE THICK FOREST CANOPY OVER THE PICKUP SITE & CAME APART. A FALLING BLOCK OF WOOD FROM THE BUNDLE STRUCK & FATALLY INJURED THE GROUND HOOK-UP CREWMAN. THE COMPANY OPERATING MANUAL REQUIRED THAT GROUND PERSONNEL BE CLEAR OF THE AREA DURING THE LIFT-OFF & THAT THE PILOT MAKE A VERTICAL TAKEOFF TO AN ALTITUDE THAT WOULD CLEAR THE LOAD OF OBSTRUCTIONS.
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: 4,615 hours in all; 202 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,846 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 1990; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,550 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from PDX, 36 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.
Other NTSB records under N8306F 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.