LAX91LA224

1991-05-26 · PALM SPRINGS, California, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PSP

Aircraft involved

N7033H Hughes 269A Minor

Probable cause & findings

LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE UNQUALIFIED PERSON AT THE CONTROLS; IMPROPER USE OF ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS BY AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FENCE.

Factual narrative

IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS HOVERING THE HELICOPTER, BUT DUE TO THE WIND, HE LOST CONTROL. THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS REGIONAL AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER TO BE FROM 340 DEGREES AT 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A FENCE; ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT; AND ROLLED OVER WHEN IT CONTACTED THE GROUND. IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID, 'I CAN NOT FURNISH A COPY OF A CURRENT PILOT OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE, SINCE I HAVE NONE.' A REVIEW OF FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION RECORDS REVEALED NO RECORD OF A PILOT CERTIFICATE OR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE EVER BEING ISSUED TO THE PILOT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_LAX91LA224.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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