20030928022709A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 269C · Gail, TX · September 28, 2003

Date: September 28, 2003 · 08:30 local
Place: Gail, TX
Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9620F
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW03CA233
Reported as: Hughes 269C
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 9,100 total8,000 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N9620FRegistration cancelled Mar 21, 2017 · Hughes 269CS/N 700020 · Built 1970 Airframe modelHughes 269C Engine modelLycoming I0360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On September 28, 2003, Hughes aircraft, N9620F, attempted take-off from a transport trailer located 6 miles north of Gail, Texas. Immediately as the helicopter lifted from the trailer the aft part of the left skid snagged an unknown object on the transport trailer causing the helicopter to roll to the left and abruptly pitch nose down. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. The flight was intended for livestock spotting and relocation.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2003, HUGHES AIRCRAFT, N9620F, ATTEMPTED TAKE-OFF FROM A TRANSPORT TRAILER LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF GAIL, TEXAS. IMMEDIATELY AS THE HELICOPTER LIFTED FROM THE TRAILER THE AFT PART OF THE LEFT SKID SNAGGED AN UNKNOWN OBJECT ON THE TRANSPORT TRAILER CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL TO THE LEFT AND ABRUPTLY PITCH NOSE DOWN. THE HELICOPTER SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS INTENDED FOR LIVESTOCK SPOTTING AND RELOCATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW03CA233Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportGail, TXThe loss of control for undetermined reasons.Sep 28, 2003 · Substantial damage