MD500 PLT HAS ENG FAILURE DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND AUTOROTATES.

Narrative

I WAS ON A DAY VFR SCOUTING TRIP TO FIND ACCEPTABLE OFF-SITE LNDG AREAS. I FLY FOR A LCL TELEVISION STATION. I WAS PIC IN A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS 500D HELI. THE PREFLT INSPECTION WAS NORMAL. EVERY CAUTION AND WARNING LIGHT FUNCTIONED UPON TESTING. THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED FULL TANKS; WHICH IS 2.5 HRS OF FLT TIME UNTIL EMPTY. THE PLANNED FLT WAS ONLY 1 HR IN DURATION. THE ENTIRE FLT WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN UNTIL I WAS ON THE WAY HOME. I CONTACTED ZZZ TWR TO GET CLRNC TO LAND. I WAS ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS TO JOIN R TFC FOR LNDG. AT APPROX 4 OR 5 MI FROM THE APT THE ENG FLAMED OUT. I TRIED TO RESTART WITH NO SUCCESS; SO I ISSUED A MAYDAY TO THE CTL TWR. I PERFORMED A FULL AUTOROTATION INTO A COW PASTURE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO DAMAGE TO THE SHIP OR TO ANY PERSONS OR PROPERTY. UPON INSPECTION; THE FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE FUEL-SENDING UNIT WAS FAULTY; AND THE LOW FUEL WARNING SYS WAS NOT OPERATING AS WELL. THEY HAVE SINCE BOTH BEEN REPLACED/FIXED. IN RETROSPECT; IF THERE WERE A WAY TO VISUALLY INSPECT THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANKS; THIS OCCURRENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. I HAVE SINCE STARTED USING A NOTCHED BROOMSTICK TO CHK THE ACTUAL FUEL LEVEL IN MY PREFLT INSPECTION.