N64731Hughes 269C · 1974

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.