N38110

Substantial
None

TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13E/M74S/N: 77-010

Accident Details

Date
Friday, June 11, 2010
NTSB Number
WPR10CA285
Location
Los Banos, CA
Event ID
20100611X62940
Coordinates
36.983333, -120.666664
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's failure to verify the fuel quantity onboard.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP
Serial Number
77-010
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
OH-13E/M74
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
1
FAA Model
OH-13E/M74

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
HHI FARMS LLC
Address
PO BOX 264
City
HAMILTON
State / Zip Code
MI 49419-0264
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that during an aerial application flight he lined up for a downwind spray pass at an approximate height of three feet above the crop. During the pass the engine sputtered and died. He entered an auto-rotation and attempted to slow the aircraft down from 50 MPH. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain and came to rest on its side. The pilot noted that the helicopter was refueled for the second time during the job about an hour prior to the accident. An FAA Inspector's report noted that the helicopter was not refueled to its proper quantity, causing the pilot to miscalculate the fuel on-board. Post impact inspection of the aircraft revealed an estimated two gallons or less of fuel in the tank, and that there were no ruptures in the fuel tank. During the on-scene inspection there was no odor of fuel at the accident site. Post-recovery engine tests revealed that the engine operated without any significant issues and fuel contamination was ruled out.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR10CA285