N500PH

Substantial
None

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369ES/N: 0187E

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, July 25, 2013
NTSB Number
WPR13CA342
Location
Hilo, HI
Event ID
20130726X72243
Coordinates
19.723054, -155.057785
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
5
Total Aboard
5

Probable Cause and Findings

A loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper planning and  mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER
Serial Number
0187E
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Model / ICAO
369E
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1
Seats
4
FAA Model
369E

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
PRECISION HELI-SUPPORT LLC
Address
4702 E FIGHTER ACES DR
City
MESA
State / Zip Code
AZ 85215-2502
Country
United States

Analysis

During a round trip tour flight, the pilot determined that the fuel state was low, and decided to return to the airport. The flight entered the airport environment and the pilot requested priority handling for a low fuel state. The engine subsequently lost power and the pilot initiated an autorotation to a field at the approach end of the runway. During the landing the helicopter's skid collapsed and the helicopter rolled over on to its right side which resulted in substantial damage. The operator indicated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR13CA342