Incident Overview
A sightseeing helicopter tour ended in a hard landing after the engine quit due to fuel exhaustion. The incident occurred when the pilot, who was conducting the tour, observed a fuel pump caution light. Shortly thereafter, the pilot noted that the fuel level was low but assessed that sufficient fuel remained to complete the landing approach to the departure helipad.
Sequence of Events
At an altitude of approximately 50 feet above ground level (A.G.L.) and an airspeed of about 40 knots, the engine failed. The pilot performed an autorotation, but the helicopter landed hard. The force of the landing collapsed the landing gear, and the helicopter subsequently struck an airport perimeter fence. All available fuel had been exhausted.
Fuel Management Details
Investigation revealed that the helicopter had been refueled prior to the third departure of a total of five flights. After a lunch break, the pilot departed on the accident flight. Company manifest sheets for each flight indicated a standard fuel load of either 40 or 65 gallons. However, these manifest sheets did not accurately reflect the actual quantity of fuel on board for each flight. Additionally, the pilot did not visually verify the actual fuel amount before the accident flight.
Conclusion
The accident resulted from fuel exhaustion during the final approach. The standard fuel load notations on the manifest sheets were not accurate, and the pilot did not confirm the fuel quantity visually before departure.