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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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July 29, 2014 · Hughes 369D · N89ZC

West Liberty, OH

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 29, 2014
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
West Liberty, OH
Aircraft
Hughes 369D (1981)
Tail Number
N89ZC
Operator
Rotor Blade
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN14LA398

The commercial pilot was using an aerial saw to trim trees when the accident occurred. As the helicopter was going through a tree line, the engine lost power, and it then descended into trees and terrain. A postaccident examination of the helicopter revealed that no fuel was present in either the fuel tank or in the engine fuel line. When electrical power was applied to the helicopter after the accident, the fuel quantity indicator showed that the fuel tank was empty. The helicopter was topped off with fuel before the accident flight, and it had been flown 1 hour 50 minutes before the accident. The operator stated that the fuel tank holds 62.4 gallons, and the pilot reported that the helicopter consumes about 30 gallons per hour. It is likely that the pilot did not adequately monitor the fuel quantity during the flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power, which resulted from fuel exhaustion due to the pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the fuel quantity during the flight.

Full Narrative

On July 29, 2014, at 1651 eastern daylight time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N89ZC, collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power while trimming trees in West Liberty, Ohio. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The helicopter was registered to DAH Aircraft LLC and operated by Rotor Blade LLC as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 external load flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a nearby field at 1501. The pilot was using a 10-bladed aerial saw to trim trees along a railroad track when the accident occurred. A witness reported the engine sounded like it lost power and the tail of the helicopter oscillated to the left as the helicopter began losing altitude. The helicopter then rolled to the left and descended to impact with the trees and terrain. A postaccident examination of the helicopter was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The inspector reported the tail boom separated from the helicopter during the impact. The tail rotor drive shaft did not show evidence of torsional twisting. The main and tail rotor blades contained little damage. He reported there was no evidence of fuel spill at the accident site. The helicopter's fuel system was intact and there was no fuel present in the fuel tank or in the fuel line at the engine. The inspector applied electrical power to the helicopter and the fuel quantity indicator showed the tank was empty. The helicopter was topped off with fuel prior to the flight. According to the helicopter operator, the helicopter holds 62.4 gallons of fuel. The pilot reported the helicopter consumes about 30 gallons per hour. The operator stated the spot tracker information showed the helicopter flew 1 hour and 50 minutes from the last fueling to the time of the accident and they drained about one quart of fuel from the helicopter after the accident. The operator stated the pilots and ground crew time the flights for fuel consumption. The ground crew gave the pilot a one hour time check followed by additional 15 minute time checks prior to the accident.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:51 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftHughes 369D
Tail NumberN89ZC
Aircraft CategoryHeli
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRotor Blade
Operating RulePart 133
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3700 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 54
Altimeter30.03 inHg
Observation Time20:30
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data