Introduction
A Bell 206B helicopter experienced a power loss while returning to the airport for refueling after an aerial photography mission. The helicopter subsequently struck the ground hard, resulting in the separation of the tail boom.
Accident Details
The pilot departed with what he believed was sufficient fuel for 1.6 hours of flight at a consumption rate of 28 gallons per hour. After being airborne for 1.3 hours, the pilot was returning to the airport to refuel when a power loss occurred. A witness reported seeing the helicopter drop from approximately 20 feet. The helicopter hit the ground hard and bounced. During the impact, the main rotor struck the tail boom aft of the horizontal stabilizer, causing the tail boom to separate from the helicopter.
Post-Accident Inspection
An FAA inspector examined the helicopter and found that the fuel tank was empty. Further inspection of the fuel quantity measuring system revealed that the movement of the sensing arm was smooth, with no hesitation felt or observed on the fuel quantity gauge. With the fuel sensing arm in the full up position, the fuel quantity gauge indicated about 2 gallons less than full. With the sensing arm in the lowered position and no fuel in the tank, the gauge read zero.