On September 15, 1983, a Hiller-soloy UH12E (registration N3324F) was involved in an aviation accident near Cape Yakataga, AK. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A helicopter rolled over during a forced landing on a beach after its engine quit. Investigation confirmed fuel exhaustion, with dry fuel lines and less than one gallon of fuel in the main tank. The owner had advised pilots to visually check fuel levels due to unreliable gauges.
Accident Details
A helicopter experienced an engine failure while in flight, necessitating a forced landing on a beach. During the landing, the helicopter rolled over. Subsequent discussions with the pilot, who is also the owner of the company, confirmed that the aircraft had run out of fuel.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuel lines were dry and less than one gallon of fuel remained in the main tank. The owner stated that he had warned his pilots to visually check fuel levels on the helicopters because the fuel quantity indicators were unreliable. Replacement fuel gauges had been backordered for an extended period, leading to continued reliance on visual inspections.