Pilot Debrief

HUGHES 369D near Carlisle, WA — 2015-11-24

Final reportWPR16LA032
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Date
2015-11-24
Location
Carlisle, WA, USA
Aircraft
HUGHES 369D
Registration
N50713
Category
Helicopter
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the improper calibration of the fuel quantity gauge.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot reported that, while relocating the helicopter to a staging area to refuel, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He initiated an autorotation to a partially-wooded area, where the helicopter touched down and rolled onto its right side. The pilot stated that, before the loss of engine power, he noticed that the fuel quantity indication was not decreasing as he would have expected. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel quantity gauge indicated more fuel in the fuel tank than the amount that was physically present. This erroneous fuel level indication led the pilot to believe that more fuel was available than what was in the fuel tanks, and subsequently resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Fuel management
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have verified fuel gauge accuracy before departure from Hoquiam.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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