What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 19, 2009 whirly bird helicopter instructor privacy data omitted and private pilot privacy data omitted departed ogden, UT on a commercial training flight from ogden, UT (ogd) to windover, UT (env). The flight departed ogd at 1440Z following the railroad tracks south at 6,400 feet, south of restricted area 6412, they flew west at 5,500 direct to env. The pilot stated the a/c had 32 gal (210 lbs) of fuel; two gallons unusable, according to the pilot the helicopter used 16.6 to 18.5 gal/hr at an average ground speed of 100 KTS. The route measures 175 statute miles, the winds were out of the west, light and variable at 5KTS. The engine began to sputter and miss approximately 5 miles east of the destination, the instructor took control of the a/c and began an autorotation, the a/c contacted the ground where the main rotor blade struck the tail boom shearing the tail rotor shaft. The aircraft came to rest upright, there were no injuries. Inspection of the helicopter revealed less than one gallon of fuel in both fuel tanks, and the low fuel PSI warning light was illuminated. One gallon of fuel was added to each fuel tank, the low fuel PSI warning light extinguished and the engine started.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 19, 2009 WHIRLY BIRD HELICOPTER INSTRUCTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND PRIVATE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED OGDEN, UT ON A COMMERCIAL TRAINING FLIGHT FROM OGDEN, UT (OGD) TO WINDOVER, UT (ENV). THE FLIGHT DEPARTED OGD AT 1440Z FOLLOWING THE RAILROAD TRACKS SOUTH AT 6,400 FEET, SOUTH OF RESTRICTED AREA 6412, THEY FLEW WEST AT 5,500 DIRECT TO ENV. THE PILOT STATED THE A/C HAD 32 GAL (210 LBS) OF FUEL; TWO GALLONS UNUSABLE, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE HELICOPTER USED 16.6 TO 18.5 GAL/HR AT AN AVERAGE GROUND SPEED OF 100 KTS. THE ROUTE MEASURES 175 STATUTE MILES, THE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE WEST, LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT 5KTS. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER AND MISS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES EAST OF THE DESTINATION, THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL OF THE A/C AND BEGAN AN AUTOROTATION, THE A/C CONTACTED THE GROUND WHERE THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM SHEARING THE TAIL ROTOR SHAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER REVEALED LESS THAN ONE GALLON OF FUEL IN BOTH FUEL TANKS, AND THE LOW FUEL PSI WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. ONE GALLON OF FUEL WAS ADDED TO EACH FUEL TANK, THE LOW FUEL PSI WARNING LIGHT EXTINGUISHED AND THE ENGINE STARTED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N280AD · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.