# NTSB LAX89FA212: Hughes 269C, N58323, Rainbow Valley, CA, June 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 10, 1989, 09:36 local (16:36 UTC)
- Place: Rainbow Valley, CA
- Coordinates: 33.390354, -117.209152 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3904&lon=-117.2092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 15, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26231
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89FA212
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26231/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89FA212

## Probable cause

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT (FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE OBSTRUCTION). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY IN MARGINAL VFR WEATHER, AND THE TRANSMISSION LINE.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, cruise
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - drizzle/mist (contributing factor)
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

BEFORE THE FLT, THE STUDENT HELICOPTER PLT RECEIVED A WX BRIEFING, WHICH WAS FORECAST TO BE MARGINAL. HE ELECTED TO FLY, THOUGH INSTRUCTED NOT TO GO IF WX WOULD BE A FACTOR. THE FLT HAD BEEN PLANNED FOR A ROUTE TO BLYTHE, BUT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT PROCEEDED TO PAUMA VALLEY & MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED STOP. A PASSENGER BOARDED THE HELICOPTER & THE PLT TOOK OFF AGAIN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER COLLIDED WITH A POWER LINE AS THE PLT WAS FLYING ABOUT 300 FT ABOVE AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. IT THEN CRASHED TO THE GROUND & WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. A WITNESS RPRTD THE CLOUDS WERE LOW, BUT THERE WAS NO FOG. ANOTHER WITNESS RPRTD MIST WAS FALLING. ABOUT 14 MI SW AT OCEANSIDE, THE WX WAS, IN PART: PARTIALLY OBSCURED, 1000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 5 MILES, WIND FROM 160 DEG AT 4 KTS. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS EVIDENT. THE PLT HELD A SINGLE ENGINE LAND AIRPLANE RATING AND WAS RECEIVING FLIGHT INSTRUCTION IN HELICOPTERS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58323](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58323-1992-03-24), registration cancelled 1992-03-24, S/N 790803 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C
- Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 790803
- Airframe hours: 4847
- Engines: LYCOMING HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Civic Helicopters Inc., doing business as Flight Trails Helicopters
- Registered owner: Civic Helicopters, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 1989, 40 hours before
- Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, CA
- Destination: BLH, BLYTHE, CA
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 96 total, 19 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NFG, 14 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 19890610015009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890610015009A), Jun 10, 1989: Hughes 269C, Rainbow Valley, CA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Student helicopter pilot with passenger struck wires over freeway and crashed. Was advised marginal VFR for flight.

## Other investigations on N58323 (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 LAX86LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA344), Sep 11, 1986: Hughes 269C (N58323), Carlsbad, CA, substantial damage

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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