Hughes 369HS accident near Randle, Washington, June 21, 1990
On June 21, 1990 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Hughes 369HS (helicopter), registered N4428F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Randle, Washington. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1990 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Randle, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 369HS · all 369HSs on the register
- Registration
- N4428F · no longer on the register · serial 1290226S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT, THE PILOT APPROACHED THE LANDING ZONE WITH A TAIL WIND AND GUSTING WIND CONDITIONS AT 30 KNOTS. APPROXIMATELY 20-30 FEET AGL, A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE HELICOPTER WHICH VEERED OFF AND SKIMMED OVER POWER LINES IN THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE LANDING ZONE. POWER WAS APPLIED AND THE HELICOPTER GAINED 20-30 FEET AND CONTINUED ON TO LAND HARD IN THE OPEN FIELD. THERE WERE NO REPORTED MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE HELICOPTER AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C18A (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Randle WA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 30 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.