- Date
- March 16, 1996, 11:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place
- Killeen, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N9574Enstrom F-28A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 4, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960316004379A
- Case key
- 19785
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a loss of engine power, due to an inadequate supply of fuel. A factor relating to the accident was: lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing (autorotation).
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during his preflight of the helicopter, he knew that the fuel tanks were not full, but they 'seemed adequate.' He estimated that the two 15 gallon tanks were about '3/4 of a tank capacity.' The helicopter was last flown the night before by another pilot. That pilot estimated that the fuel tanks were only '1/4 full' at the end of that flight. The Pilot/Owners Handbook revealed a fuel consumption of about 19.1 gallons per hour at 100% power and 12.2 gallons per hour at 75% power. The accident pilot reported that 'a normal start, warm-up and rotor engagement' were made before a 'hovering demonstration and short flight' were accomplished. He then boarded two passengers, lifted off, and performed another hovering demonstration. The pilot then flew west for about 3 miles, and the engine began to 'run rough.' Subsequently, the engine 'quit completely,' and the pilot autorotated to rough and uneven ground, where the helicopter touched down hard. Postcrash examination revealed no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks.
Factual narrative
On March 16, 1996, at 1105 central standard time, an Enstrom F-28A, N9574, registered to and operated by a private owner under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Killeen, Texas. The commercial helicopter pilot and one passenger were not injured; however, one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated at Killeen Municipal Airport near Killeen, Texas, approximately 26 minutes before the accident. No flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that during his preflight of the helicopter he knew that the fuel tanks were not full, but they "seemed adequate." He estimated that the two 15 gallon tanks were about "3/4 of a tank capacity." The pilot reports that he performed the "walkaround" of the helicopter while "talking about several items to individuals present." The pilot further reports that "a normal start, warm-up and rotor engagement" were made before a "hovering demonstration and short flight to the west along highway 190 and return to Killeen airport."
The helicopter was last flown the night before, by another pilot. He reported to a FAA inspector that he thought the fuel tanks were only "1/4 full" at the termination of that flight.
The Pilot's Owners Handbook for the Enstrom F-28A revealed a fuel consumption of approximately 19.1 gallons per hour at 100%. Fuel consumption at 75% power, is approximately 12.3 gallons per hour.
The pilot states that after he returned to Killeen Airport, two passengers were boarded and he began a second flight identical to the first. He performed a hovering demonstration, and, then flew west along highway 190. Approximately 3 miles later, the engine began to "run rough." Subsequently the engine "quit completely" and the pilot autorotated to the rough and uneven ground. The ensuing hard landing damaged the main rotor blade, tailboom, tail rotor gearbox, tail rotor, tail skid, and left rear diagonal skidtube.
Post-crash examination of the aircraft by a FAA inspector revealed no evidence of fuel in the fuel tanks.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9574
- Reported as
- Enstrom F-28A
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 132
- Airframe hours
- 1,338
- Engine
- Lycoming HIO-360-C1A, 205 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Terry L. Higgins
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · January 4, 1996 · 116 hours before
- Departed
- ILE
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 23 in this make and model · 2,300 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ILE, 3 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.