# NTSB LAX83FA393: Hughes 369HS, N90958, San Pedro, CA, August 18, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1983, 06:43 local (13:43 UTC)
- Place: San Pedro, CA
- Coordinates: 33.730895, -118.290939 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7309&lon=-118.2909&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FA393
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23493/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FA393

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - idling rotors
  - procedures/directives - not followed, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ON A MISSION TO TRANSPORT COMPANY PERSONNEL & HAD LANDED ON A BARGE THAT WAS BEING USED AS A HELIPAD. THE BARGE WAS ABOUT 250 FT LONG & 75 FT WIDE. AFTER ARRIVING, THE PLT PARKED THE HELICOPTER WITH THE TAIL BOOM AS CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE BARGE AS POSSIBLE. HE THEN REDUCED THE POWER TO IDLE & SIGNALED FOR THE 3 PASSENGERS (WAITING BEHIND A ROPE LINE) TO APPROACH THE HELICOPTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED OPERATING PROCEDURES. AS THE PASSENGERS APPROACHED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER, THEY MOVED OUT OF THE PLT'S LINE OF SIGHT. WHILE 2 WERE BOARDING, THE 3RD PASSENGER WALKED TO THE REAR OF THE ACFT, DUCKED UNDER THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & WALKED INTO THE TAIL ROTOR. THE VICTIM WAS TREATED & TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL, BUT SUCCUMBED LATER DUE TO HEAD & SHOULDER INJURIES. A TRAINING PROGRAM HAD BEEN INSTITUTED TO EDUCATE THE PASSENGERS CONCERNING HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH ROTATING COMPONENTS OF THE ROTOR SYS & OFF-LIMIT AREAS. THE PASSENGER HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON 3 OCCASIONS & HAD BEEN A PASSENGER NEARLY EVERY DAY FOR 6 WEEKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N90958 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 369HS
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 1280002S
- Airframe hours: 4893
- Engines: ALLISON 250-C18B 317 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bruce A. Stration
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 14, 1983, 300 hours before
- Airport: Helipad

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private, commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,500 total, 800 in this make and model, 9,350 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,900 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LGB, 8 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830818043959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830818043959A), Aug 18, 1983: Hughes 369HS, Terminal Island, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Passenger waiting to board helicopter ducked under tail contrary to instructions. Was fatally struck by tail rotor.

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.

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