ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 352916
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| Date: | Friday 30 July 1999 |
| Time: | 18:04 LT |
| Type: |  Hughes 369D |
| Owner/operator: | Alpine Helicopters, Inc. |
| Registration: | N103FW |
| MSN: | 811073D |
| Year of manufacture: | 1981 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3954 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Petersburg, AK -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | , AK (KPSG) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The certificated commercial pilot was returning to the airport. He stated that he knew he was low on fuel, but thought he had enough fuel to return since the low fuel light had not illuminated. He said that while on approach to land at the airport, about 400 feet above the runway, all engine power was lost. He entered an autorotation, flared the helicopter about five feet above the runway, and touched down on the runway edge. The pilot said that as the helicopter touched down, the left skid assembly collapsed, and the helicopter rolled over to the left. A pilot-rated witness observed the helicopter enter an autorotation to the runway, and while still about 50 feet above the runway, the accident pilot flared, and the rotor rpm decayed rapidly. He said that the helicopter landed hard on the left skid, which collapsed the left skid, and the helicopter rolled over on its left side. An FAA inspector that examined the helicopter stated that the fuel quantity indicator read 'zero,' and that the fuel low indicator light was not illuminated. He said that when the 'press to test' feature on the warning light was used, the light then illuminated. He added that an inspection of the helicopter's fuel cell revealed about one pint of fuel remaining. The McDonnell Douglas (Hughes) 500D pilot operating handbook, Emergency and Malfunctions Procedures section, states: 'CAUTION: Never use the FUEL LEVEL LOW light as a working indication of fuel quantity.'
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to refuel the helicopter prior to fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were an inoperative low fuel warning system, and the pilot's improper autorotation.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB ANC99LA100
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 3 November 2015 | N510PA | Olympic Air Inc | 0 | near Sedro-Woolley, WA | |
sub |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Mar-2024 08:23 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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