What happened
The flight began with the helicopter departing on a local operation. According to the pilot's account, the aircraft was fueled to less than 200 pounds as indicated by the fuel gauge prior to departure. Approximately fifteen minutes into the flight, while maintaining an altitude of 125 feet above ground level, the engine-out warning system activated, signaling a loss of power.
Following the warning, the helicopter began to yaw about its vertical axis while descending. At this critical juncture, the pilot noted that the fuel gauge needle had dropped below the 100-pound mark. In an effort to maintain rotor RPM and control, the pilot lowered the collective pitch nearly to the bottom position before pulling it fully back up just moments before impact.
The aircraft struck the ground with a vertical descent rate estimated between 800 and 1,000 feet per minute. The force of the collision fractured the right landing skid, causing the helicopter to roll onto its right side upon stopping.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the aircraft's fuel system was conducted to determine the cause of the power loss. Inspectors found that there was no fuel remaining in the tanks at the time of the crash. Furthermore, the inspection confirmed that the fuel indicating system was functioning correctly and showed no mechanical defects.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was fuel exhaustion. The pilot misjudged the fuel consumption rate or initial fuel quantity, leading to a complete depletion of the fuel supply during flight. The engine-out warning provided late notice, leaving insufficient altitude or time to recover safely.