What happened
Before departing, the pilot did not perform a visual inspection of the fuel tank, relying instead on a fuel gauge reading between 17 and 18 gallons. The pilot proceeded with the flight without refueling. Approximately 60 minutes into the flight, the low fuel warning light illuminated, and the fuel gauge indicated 5 gallons remaining.
The pilot attempted to climb from 400 feet to 800 feet, a maneuver that lasted four minutes. Upon reaching 800 feet, the engine began to sputter and subsequently stopped producing power. At this time, the fuel gauge indicated the tank was empty. The pilot performed a forced landing into a clearing, during which the aircraft struck pine trees and rolled onto its right side.
The investigation
An examination of the helicopter revealed that the fuel tank contained no fuel. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical deficiencies present in the aircraft.