# NTSB SEA04CA107: Steward Rocky 162F, N717CS, Hood River, OR, June 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 16, 2004, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Hood River, OR - Coordinates: 45.64389, -121.584442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6439&lon=-121.5844&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59454 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04CA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59454/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04CA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's miscalculation of fuel consumption and his inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. A factor was the high vegetation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - refueling - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fuel consumption calculations - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - autorotation - performed, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis During cruise at 2,200 feet mean sea level, the helicopter lost engine power, necessitating the pilot to make an autorotation. Having departed earlier in the morning with full fuel and making two previous flights, the pilot felt he had sufficient fuel for a third flight. On the return leg of the third flight the pilot noticed the engine LOW RPM light illuminate, a low RPM needle indication, a high manifold pressure gage indication, but no LOW FUEL warning light. Assuming he had lost engine power, the pilot made an autorotation to an open hay field. During the landing sequence into the high vegetation, the aircraft initially went up on its nose before rolling over on its left side. A post accident examination revealed no fuel was present when the right tank was dipped, and that 4 to 6 ounces of fuel was present when the helicopter's common drain was opened. The pilot indicated that during the course of the day he was using higher takeoff power settings due to the warmer weather, and that his miscalculations had caused him to run out of fuel. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 2004, about 1130 Pacific daylight time, a Stewart Rocky 162F helicopter, N717CS, lost engine power and was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Hood River, Oregon. The helicopter is owned by the pilot and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the flight that originated from the Ken Jernstedt Airfield (4S2), Hood River, Oregon, at 0945. In a written statement dated June 16, 2004, the pilot reported that while flying at 2,200 feet mean sea level he noticed a low RPM needle and warning light, a high manifold gage indication, but no LOW FUEL warning light, which would indicate approximately 3 gallons of fuel remaining. The pilot further reported that he tried adding throttle and reducing collective, but when this did not correct the problem he assumed he had lost engine power. The pilot stated that he then made an immediate 180 degree turn and performed an autorotation to a large hay field, "...which was about 4 feet high and thick." The pilot further stated that the landing went well until the helicopter slowly rotated towards the nose and the main rotor blade made ground contact. The helicopter subsequently rolled over on its left side. The pilot related that during a post accident examination he dipped the right tank and found no fuel present. At the request of the NTSB investigator-in-charge the pilot also drained what fuel remained from a common drain into a jar which measured approximately 3 inches in diameter. The total amount of fuel drained into the jar measured about 1 inch, equating to approximately 4 to 6 ounces according to the pilot. The pilot reported that during the day it was taking higher power settings to lift off and hover due to the warmer weather. The pilot further reported, "I just miscalculated my fuel. I think I ran out of fuel." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N717CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N717CS-2012-11-29), registration cancelled 2012-11-29, S/N CS001, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Steward Rocky 162F - Registry model: [Stewart Rocky 162F](https://openairdocs.org/model/stewart-rocky-162f) (registry code 0560725) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter, amateur-built - Serial number: CS001 - Engines: Rotorway 162F reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arthur G. Sandercock - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 4S2, Hood River, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 6,527 total, 188 in this make and model, 77 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040616012659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040616012659A), Jun 16, 2004: Amtr ROTORWAY162F, Hood River, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot elected to accomplish autorotation landing in a field due to low RPM and warning light. At touchdown the aircraft slowly rotated towards the nose… 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.