N9620F

On September 28, 2003, at 0830 central daylight time, a Hughes 269C single-engine helicopter, N9620F, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during takeoff from a transport trailer near Gail, Texas. The helicopter was registered to and operated by a private individual. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The 9,146-hour pilot reported to an NTSB investigator, that prior to takeoff, the helicopter was facing in an aft direction on a transport trailer, and he completed a preflight inspection on the helicopter. The pilot added that during takeoff, the helicopter "felt like it was hung on something." Subsequently, the pilot lost control of the helicopter an the main rotor blades impacted terrain, and the helicopter came to rest adjacent to the trailer.

Examination of the helicopter, by an FAA inspector who responded to the site of the accident, revealed that the tail boom was separated and all three main rotor blades were damaged. Examination of the transport trailer revealed during the accident sequence, the trailer was moved "approximately 6 feet straight back" from its original position. One of the helicopter tie down chains was found spread across the top of the trailer. No damage was noted on the transport trailer, or tie down chain. The reason for the loss of control was not determined.