# Accident 20130725014219A: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Hilo, HI, July 25, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 25, 2013, 13:16 local time
- Place: Hilo, HI
- Airport: Hilo International.
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: K2DA
- Location: 19.7231° N, 155.0578° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.7231&lon=-155.0578&mi=10
- Aircraft: N500PH, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N500PH) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (registry code 3027369, https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E
- Reported engine: ALLISON C20-250-B
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,100 total, 80 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR13CA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA342) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130725014219A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE ACCIDENT PILOT WAS ASSIGNED TO FLY AIRCRAFT N500PH, AN HU-369 HELICOPTER, FOR A FLIGHTSEEING TOUR OF HAWAII ISLAND AT 12:30 P.M.  THE PILOT WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN N500PH RADIOED IN THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NEED FUEL PRIOR TO THE NEXT FLIGHT.  THE OUT GOING PILOT REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT HAD ABOUT 125 TO 150 POUNDS OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE LEFT.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT REFULED.  THE ACCIDENT PILOT STATED HE ESTIMATED FUEL AT ABOUT 200 POUNDS ON TAKEOFF.  AFTER TWO TURNS AROUND THE VOLCANO, THE PILOT REALIZED FUEL WAS LOW AND TRIED TO RETURN TO HILO AIRPORT.  THE FUEL LOW LIGHT CAME ON.  THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT, RATHER THAN LAND.  THE PILOT STATED HE FELT LANDING MIGHT CAUSE A HAZARD AS PEOPLE MIGHT GATHER AROUND THE AIRCRAFT ON LANDING.  ONE OF THE PASSENGERS WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUEL STATE AND QUERIED THE PILOT.  THE PILOT TOLD THE PASSENGER THAT FUEL WAS OK.  ON SHORT FINAL, THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION.  THE PILOT EXECUTED AN AUTOROTATIONAL LANDING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR13CA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA342), Jul 25, 2013: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E (N500PH), Hilo, HI, substantial damage. 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.

## Other reports on N500PH (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20100304028449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100304028449I), Mar 4, 2010: Mcdonnell D 369E (N500PH), Hilo, HI, No damage. N500PH, MD500E, because of unspecified mechanical issues made a precautionary landing on the shoreline, 12 miles southeast of the Hilo airport at 1458PST. No…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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