MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E
Hilo, HI — July 25, 2013
Event Information
| Date | July 25, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR13CA342 |
| Event ID | 20130726X72243 |
| Location | Hilo, HI |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 19.72305, -155.05779 |
| Airport | Hilo International Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER |
| Model | 369E |
| Category | HELI |
| FAR Part | 135 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 5 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
A loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper planning and mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.
Full Narrative
During a round trip tour flight, the pilot determined that the fuel state was low, and decided to return to the airport. The flight entered the airport environment and the pilot requested priority handling for a low fuel state. The engine subsequently lost power and the pilot initiated an autorotation to a field at the approach end of the runway. During the landing the helicopter's skid collapsed and the helicopter rolled over on to its right side which resulted in substantial damage. The operator indicated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation.
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.