# NTSB CEN09LA202: Hughes 269C, N64731, El Indio, TX, March 11, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 11, 2009, 11:36 local (16:36 UTC) - Place: El Indio, TX - Coordinates: 28.794445, -100.458885 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7944&lon=-100.4589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 73477 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73477/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73477 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA202 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter while attempting to land on a transport trailer in heavy rain and gusting winds. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: rain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Hughes 269C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=4470504), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the helicopter and a Food and Drug Administration employee had been herding cattle when it began to mist and they decided to return to the landing zone. Heavy rain began to fall and the wind began gusting as they attempted to land on a transport trailer. One or both of the helicopter skids hooked under the trailer and the helicopter rolled over. The main rotors were destroyed and the tail boom was severed. ## Factual narrative On March 11, 2009, approximately 1140 central daylight time, a Hughes 269C, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the skids hooked under a trailer as the pilot attempted to land and the helicopter rolled over at a ranch near El Indio, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The work use flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The local flight originated at an undetermined time. FAA inspectors who responded to the accident site asked the pilot what had happened. He answered, "I crashed." Asked why he crashed, he referred all questions to his attorney. A NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, was sent to the pilot. He declined to return the report. The following, therefore, is based on information provided by FAA's Flight Standards District Office in San Antonio, Texas. The pilot and a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employee had been herding cattle when it began to mist and they decided to return to the landing zone. Heavy rain began to fall and the wind began gusting as they attempted to land on a transport trailer. One or both of the helicopter skids hooked under the trailer and the helicopter rolled over. The main rotors were destroyed and the tail boom was severed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64731](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64731-2009-05-07), registration cancelled 2009-05-07, S/N 840339, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HUGHES 269C - Registry model: [Hughes 269C](https://openairdocs.org/model/hughes-269c) (registry code 4470504) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 840339 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Claude R. Cage - Registered owner: Claude R. Cage - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NONE, El Indio, TX - Destination: NONE, El Indio, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; flight hours: 3,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: DLF, 40 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 20090311003809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090311003809A), Mar 11, 2009: Hughes 269C, El Indio, TX, Substantial damage. (-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… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73477. 1.7 MB in all. - Record of Telephone Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. The helicopter and transport trailer. Note damage to pickup truck. (item 2, .PDF, 576 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313750&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20The%20helicopter%20and%20transport%20trailer.%20Note%20damage%20to%20pickup%20truck.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. The cockpit. (item 3, .PDF, 575 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20The%20cockpit.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. The helicopter wreckage and accident site. (item 4, .PDF, 567 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20The%20helicopter%20wreckage%20and%20accident%20site.-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.