Hughes 269C accident near Batesville, Texas, July 25, 1986
On July 25, 1986 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Hughes 269C (helicopter), registered N99803, was substantially damaged in an accident near Batesville, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1986 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Batesville, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hughes 269C · all 269Cs on the register
- Registration
- N99803 · registry record · serial 700021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS AT 60 FEET AGL. HE MADE A HARD LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD CAUSING THE ROTOR BLADES TO SEVERE THE TAIL BOOM ON TOUCHDOWN. ON EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FUEL SYSTEM DEBRIS WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL STRAINER, CAUSING FUEL CONTAMINATION AND THUS A POWER LOSS TO THE ENGINE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 10, 1986; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sky Horse Helicopter, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.