20090311003809A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Hughes 269C · El Indio, TX · March 11, 2009

Date: March 11, 2009 · 11:36 local
Place: El Indio, TX
Phase of flight: Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N64731
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN09LA202
Reported as: Hughes 269C
Reported engine: Lycoming HIO360*
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,900 total1,500 in this make and model15 in the last 90 days

N64731Registration cancelled May 7, 2009 · Hughes 269CS/N 840339 · Built 1974 Airframe modelHughes 269C Engine modelLycoming HIO-360 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) The pilot of the Hughes 269C was attempting to land on a homemade trailer, with high winds, rain and foggy canopy. The pilot had trouble controlling the helicopter in the wind. The left skind got caught under the trailer, causing the helicopter to roll over onto its side and the main rotor blades hitting the ground and a parked truck.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) THE PILOT OF THE HUGHES 269C WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A HOMEMADE TRAILER, WITH HIGH WINDS, RAIN AND FOGGY CANOPY. THE PILOT HAD TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE HELICOPTER IN THE WIND. THE LEFT SKIND GOT CAUGHT UNDER THE TRAILER, CAUSING THE HELICOPTER TO ROLL OVER ONTO ITS SIDE AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES HITTING THE GROUND AND A PARKED TRUCK.

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 CEN09LA202Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportEl Indio, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to land on a transport trailer in heavy rain and gusting winds.Mar 11, 2009 · Substantial damage