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Hayward Aviation Accident Attorney

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Attorney Michael Rehm — (800) 978-0754

Aviation Accidents at Hayward Executive Airport

Hayward Executive Airport (HWD), operated by the City of Hayward, is a general aviation reliever airport in southern Alameda County serving the South Bay and East Bay communities. It handles flight training, corporate aircraft, charter operations, and personal aviation. The NTSB has investigated nine fatal accidents in the Hayward area since 1982, producing eleven fatalities, and five serious-injury accidents. The accident record at HWD includes helicopter crashes, fuel-related engine failures, a propeller-contact fatality on the ramp, and a hot air blimp accident — a range of aircraft types and cause categories that reflect the airport's diverse operational mix.

Attorney Michael Rehm represents people injured in aviation accidents at Hayward Executive Airport and throughout Alameda County. The HWD accident record spans ground operations injuries, in-flight mechanical failures, and weather-related crashes — each with a distinct liability framework.

NTSB Accident Record at Hayward Executive Airport

The following is drawn from the NTSB's CAROL accident database and represents historical investigation records only.

In June 2006, a passenger walking near a Cessna T210M at Hayward was struck and killed by the rotating propeller (NTSB Accident Report No. LAX06LA213). The NTSB found the passenger failed to see and avoid the propeller. A rotating propeller is an obvious and lethal hazard. The duty to protect people in the vicinity of a running aircraft — whether by proper positioning, written warnings, or active supervision — falls on the pilot in command and the aircraft operator. A ground-level propeller fatality on an airport ramp implicates both the aircraft operator's duty of care under Civil Code § 1714 and the airport operator's duty to maintain a safe ground environment.

A July 2019 Robinson R44 helicopter crashed at Hayward, killing the pilot (WPR19FA188). The NTSB found loss of control during a low-altitude maneuver for undetermined reasons. A June 2016 accident (WPR16FA126) killed one after the NTSB found the left engine failed due to water contamination and the pilot subsequently lost control. In January 1993, a Bell 206B operated by Helinet Corp. crashed, killing two, after the NTSB found the pilot continued flight into known adverse weather conditions at night (LAX93FA093). An April 1999 accident (LAX99FA161) killed two after the NTSB found the pilot failed to verify fuel consumption during flight, resulting in fuel exhaustion. A 1984 Cessna 180J accident (LAX84LA165) resulted in four serious injuries.

A February 1995 accident (LAX95LA121) killed one in a hot air blimp — the NTSB found the pilot's decision to operate the blimp with a known and unresolved deficiency was the cause. A pilot who takes off knowing the aircraft has an unresolved mechanical problem has made a deliberate decision to operate an unairworthy aircraft. That decision is not insulated from liability by the characterization of the deficiency as “minor.”

Liability at Hayward Executive Airport

City of Hayward as Airport Operator

Hayward Executive Airport is operated by the City of Hayward, a public entity. Claims against the City for dangerous conditions at the airport, including ramp safety, obstacle management, and facility maintenance, are governed by Government Code § 835. The City is vicariously liable for the acts of its employees under Government Code § 815.2. Claims against the City require a government tort claim under Government Code § 911.2 within six months of the incident. Missing this deadline can potentially bar a lawsuit. Tolling may apply — contact Attorney Michael Rehm to assess the specific timeline in your case.

Water Contamination and Fuel System Failures

The 2016 accident (WPR16FA126) — in which the NTSB found water contamination caused the engine failure — raises questions about where the water entered the fuel system. Water contamination in aviation fuel can originate from improper fuel storage, failure to sump the fuel tanks during preflight, or contaminated fuel delivered during servicing. The identity of the responsible party depends on when and how the contamination occurred. A fuel supplier who delivers contaminated Avgas, a fueling company that fails to follow contamination prevention procedures, or a mechanic who improperly reinstalls a fuel cap all bear potential liability depending on the evidence. The 1999 fuel exhaustion accident (LAX99FA161) raises the separate question of whether the aircraft was returned from maintenance with a properly functioning fuel quantity indication system.

Helicopter Operations

The 2019 Robinson R44 crash (WPR19FA188) and the 1993 Bell 206B crash (LAX93FA093) both involve helicopter operations at HWD. Helicopter accidents on departure or during low-altitude maneuvering often implicate training adequacy, maintenance history, and whether the specific maneuver being conducted was within the aircraft's demonstrated performance envelope. When the NTSB finds loss of control for undetermined reasons, investigation of maintenance records, prior squawks, and the operator's training program becomes essential to identifying the responsible party.

Filing Deadlines for Hayward Aviation Claims

The personal injury statute of limitations is two years under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Claims against the City of Hayward require a government tort claim within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Missing the six-month deadline can potentially bar a claim against the City. Tolling may apply depending on the facts.

Related Pages

Attorney Michael Rehm represents aviation accident victims in Hayward and throughout California on a contingency fee basis. No fee without a recovery. Call (800) 978-0754 to arrange a free consultation.

The information on this page is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case turns on its own facts. The law can change — statutes are amended, cases are decided, and regulations are revised; nothing on this page should be relied upon as a statement of current law without verification. Deadlines and legal bars discussed on this page are general guides — whether a particular deadline applies, has run, or is subject to tolling, and whether a particular doctrine bars or limits recovery in your case, requires individual analysis. Contact Attorney Michael Rehm to discuss the specific facts of your situation.

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