Incident Overview
At 2037 EDT, a pilot contacted Palm Beach Tower and reported being east of Lantana Airport at an altitude of 500 feet, inbound for landing at Palm Beach Airport. Approximately one minute later, the helicopter made another call stating it was going down due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft subsequently crashed in the front yard of a residence during an emergency landing conducted at dusk.
Collision Details
During the landing, the helicopter struck the corner of a roof and a small tree. No preimpact mechanical failure was found during the subsequent investigation.
Fuel Findings
Examination of the fuel system revealed approximately one-half gallon of fuel remaining in the left fuel tank and about one pint in the right tank. The fuel exhaustion was consistent with the pilot's report of being out of fuel.
Pilot Certification
The pilot operating the helicopter was not certificated to fly helicopters, according to records.