Accident Details
On March 11, 2009, at approximately 1140 central daylight time, a Hughes 269C helicopter experienced an accident near El Indio, Texas. The private pilot was conducting a work-use flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Standards District Office in San Antonio, Texas, the pilot and a Food and Drug Administration employee had been herding cattle. When it began to mist, they decided to return to the landing zone. As they attempted to land on a transport trailer, heavy rain began to fall and winds began gusting. During the landing attempt, one or both of the helicopter's skids hooked under the trailer, causing the helicopter to roll over.
The helicopter sustained substantial damage: the main rotors were destroyed and the tail boom was severed. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured.
The accident investigation was hampered by the pilot's lack of cooperation. When asked by FAA inspectors what happened, the pilot replied, "I crashed." When asked why he crashed, he referred all questions to his attorney. A NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report was sent to the pilot, but he declined to return it. Therefore, the information in this report is based solely on FAA sources.
The local flight originated at an undetermined time.