HUGHES 369A
Burnet, TX — September 2, 2017
Event Information
| Date | September 2, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | CEN17LA336 |
| Event ID | 20170905X32700 |
| Location | Burnet, TX |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 30.79167, -98.23278 |
| Highest Injury | SERS |
Aircraft
| Make | HUGHES |
| Model | 369A |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 1 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 2 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadequate inflight decision making, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Full Narrative
On September 2, 2017, about 1645 central daylight time, a Hughes 369A helicopter, N50MP, conducted an autorotation near Burnet, Texas. The pilot was not injured, one passenger received minor injuries, and one passenger received serious injuries. The helicopter was substantially damaged during the landing. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Lyft, LLC, Missoula, Montana, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
According to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot and two passengers were conducting aerial hog hunt operations. The helicopter was en route to the Burnet Municipal Airport-Kate Craddock Field Burnet Municipal airport (KBMQ), Burnet, Texas, when the engine lost power. The pilot conducted an autorotation to a road; however, the helicopter landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and tailboom.
The FAA inspector used a dip stick to check the fuel tank; the fuel tank was empty. The inspector also looked at the pump/injector and check valve; however, no residual fuel was found. The inspector checked the last place the helicopter was refuel, noting that the station's filters were not contaminated and that other people had purchased fuel and no problems had been reported.
The pilot did not return a completed an NTSB 6120 form.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.