# Accident 19900521016979A: Hughes 369D, Kelso, WA, May 21, 1990

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 1990, 14:00 local time
- Place: Kelso, WA
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 46.1400° N, 122.8008° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.1400&lon=-122.8008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8306F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8306F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hughes Helicopters HUGHES 369D (registry code 4470706, https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-helicopters-hughes-369d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250 SER 400HP (registry code 03013, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-ser-400hp) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369D
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 4,615 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA90LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA081) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900521016979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TRIED TO LIFT SLING LOAD OF WOOD BLOCKS THROUGH DENSE TREE COVER CAUSING BLOCKS TO FALL.HIT CREWMAN WITHOUT HARDHAT

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA90LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA90LA081), May 21, 1990: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Kelso, WA, no damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: 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…

## Other reports on N8306F (4)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19990608006659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990608006659A), Jun 8, 1999: Hughes 369D (N8306F), South Bend, WA, Substantial damage. 1978 Hughes 369D helicopter was involved in an external load operation when the acft engine failed, the pilot autorotated the acft, and the acft made a hard…
- [Accident 19970521011659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970521011659A), May 21, 1997: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Moclips, WA, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot reported that he lifted off vertically and turned the helicopter downwind toward the first sling load. When the helicopter attained an altitude…
- [Incident 19830902067739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830902067739I), Sep 2, 1983: Hughes 369D (N8306F), Scottys Junctio, NV, Minor damage. Main rotors severed 3 powerlines during climbout. Made normal landing. Poor egress route planning.
- [Accident 19790121001309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790121001309A), Jan 21, 1979: Hughes 369 (N8306F), Marble, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot lost ground reference due to snow white-out caused by rotors during landing approach.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
