- Date
- November 8, 1985, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Monahans, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N58320Hughes 269C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19851108057699A
- Case key
- 21941
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
In flight collision with object
Object - wire,transmission
Visual lookout - inadequateCause
Clearance - not maintainedCause
Loss of control - in flight
In flight collision with terrain/water
Analysis
The helicopter was being used to herd cattle when the accident occurred. The helicopter contacted 3 power lines and descended uncontrolled to ground impact.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N58320
- Reported as
- Hughes 269C
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 390760
- Airframe hours
- 2,047
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-D1A, 190 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Frank D. Menix
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 1985 · 363 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- INK, 18 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.
Other investigations on N58320 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.