What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Description of event and comments with recommendation(s)
(1) Description of event.
July 29, 2014; pilot was conducting vegetation cutting activities using a large power saw suspended below a HU-369-D helicopter.
At or about 16:45 hours local time; the helicopter engine failed due to fuel starvation and the helicopter crashed.
(2) Causal and/or contributing factors, if any.
Pilot states the helicopter fuel gage showed almost ½ tank of fuel.
Ground crew had notified the pilot via radio that he was close to refuel required time.
(3) Recommendations for systemic corrective action to reduce risk of future occurrence.
This was a pilot error, not a systemic error.
(4) Comments.
None.
As the FAA filed it
DESCRIPTION OF EVENT AND COMMENTS WITH RECOMMENDATION(S)
(1) DESCRIPTION OF EVENT.
JULY 29, 2014; PILOT WAS CONDUCTING VEGETATION CUTTING ACTIVITIES USING A LARGE POWER SAW SUSPENDED BELOW A HU-369-D HELICOPTER.
AT OR ABOUT 16:45 HOURS LOCAL TIME; THE HELICOPTER ENGINE FAILED DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AND THE HELICOPTER CRASHED.
(2) CAUSAL AND/OR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS, IF ANY.
PILOT STATES THE HELICOPTER FUEL GAGE SHOWED ALMOST ½ TANK OF FUEL.
GROUND CREW HAD NOTIFIED THE PILOT VIA RADIO THAT HE WAS CLOSE TO REFUEL REQUIRED TIME.
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO REDUCE RISK OF FUTURE OCCURRENCE.
THIS WAS A PILOT ERROR, NOT A SYSTEMIC ERROR.
(4) COMMENTS.
NONE.
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 N89ZC · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.