# NTSB SEA00LA117: Hughes 369D, N8653F, Heyburn, ID, June 28, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2000, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Heyburn, ID - Coordinates: 42.560798, -113.810249 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5608&lon=-113.8102&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49548 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49548/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA117 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion and inaccurate fuel management. A false indication on the fuel quantity gage, and an erratic low level fuel warning system were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - false indication (contributing factor) - warning system(other) - erratic (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The pilot reported that while flying at about 70-80 feet AGL spraying an insecticide over a residential area, the audible engine out warning sounded and the engine lost power. The pilot turned the helicopter to the right and extended the glide to clear obstructions for the emergency landing in a field. The helicopter landed hard, partially collapsing the landing skids, and the main rotor blades struck and severed the tailboom. Post-accident investigation at the accident site revealed that the fuel gauges were indicating empty and that the fuel level low light did illuminate at that time. The pilot reported that he did not see a light prior to the loss of engine power. The helicopter was recovered and moved to a facility to inspect the fuel system. During the tests, it was found that the fuel-sending unit indicated more fuel on the fuel gauge than was actually on board. The low fuel warning light also did not illuminate every time. The total fuel quantity drained from the fuel tank after the accident was approximately two pints. The pilot reported that the company's fuel truck does not have a metering system and that the fuelers estimate the fuel quantity added by using a timed fuel burst. They also are supposed to verify that the aircraft's fuel gage moves when fuel is added. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2000, about 0730 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 369D, N8653F, registered to and operated by Thomas Helicopters as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power near Heyburn, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Gooding, Idaho, about 2 hours prior to the accident. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the day before the accident, he had the flight crew put in 300 pounds of fuel. Verification of fuel quantity was made via the helicopter's fuel gauge. About 30 to 40 minutes prior to the accident, the pilot had the flight crew put in another 150 pounds. While flying about 70-80 feet above ground level spraying an insecticide over a residential area, the audible engine out warning sounded and the engine lost power. The pilot turned the helicopter to the right and had to extended the glide to clear obstructions for the emergency landing in a field. Just prior to touch down, the tail rotors struck low growth spruce trees. The helicopter touched down hard in the field, partially collapsing the landing skids. The main rotor blades struck and severed the tailboom. During the post-accident on-site investigation by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Boise, Idaho, Flight Standards District Office, the inspector reported that he checked the operation of the "fuel level low light" which at that time did illuminate. He also noted that the fuel quantity gauge was indicating empty. Approximately one pint of fuel was drained from the fuel system. The pilot reported to the inspector that he did not see a "fuel level low light" prior to the engine failure. The helicopter was removed and taken to the owner's facility in Gooding, Idaho. There, the helicopter was positioned for a level flight attitude. Approximately one pint of fuel was drained from the fuel tank. No leaks from the fuel hoses or seals were confirmed. Two tablespoons of fuel remained in the fuel supply hose to the fuel nozzle. A measured fuel quantity was supplied, then removed from the system to test the accuracy of the fuel gauges and warning system. The tests confirmed that the fuel-sending unit indicated more fuel on the fuel gauge than was actually on board. The low fuel warning light also did not illuminate properly every time. The pilot reported that the company's fuel truck does not have a metering system. The fuelers use a "12-second" fueling burst which is estimated to be about 150 pounds of fuel. The fuelers also are supposed to confirm that the aircraft fuel gauges moves. ## Aircraft - Registration: N8653F (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Hughes 369D - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 180256D - Airframe hours: 7318 - Engines: Allison 250-C20-B 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Thomas Helicopters - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2000, 24 hours before - Departed: GNG, GOODING, ID ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 10,796 total, 6,488 in this make and model, 10,684 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BYI, 6 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000628008179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000628008179A), Jun 28, 2000: Hughes 369D, Heyburn, ID, No damage. (-23) The pilot entered autorotation following engine flameout caused by fuel exhaustion. The a/c was substantially damaged when the main rotor struck tailboom… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.