# NTSB WPR09CA462: Agusta A109, N129AL, Page, AZ, September 22, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 22, 2009, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Page, AZ - Coordinates: 36.926109, -111.448333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9261&lon=-111.4483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74790 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA462 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74790/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74790 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA462 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and his decision to continue flight with a known low fuel level state. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Agusta S P A A109K2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0260502), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Agusta S P A A109K2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0260502), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Agusta S P A A109K2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0260502), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Agusta S P A A109K2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0260502), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Agusta S P A A109K2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0260502), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Autorotation: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Agusta S P A A109K2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0260502), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that at 70 miles from his destination he determined that he would be landing closer to minimum fuel than he had planned. He continued to the destination and passed over one airport because it did not have any services. At 35 miles from the destination, the low fuel caution-warning for fuel tank 2 illuminated, followed by a low fuel caution-warning for fuel tank 1. The pilot thought that he would still land with some reserve and continued to fly to his destination airport. Approximately 1 mile from the destination airport the helicopter experienced a dual engine flame-out. The pilot autorotated to a sports field where the helicopter landed hard, sustaining damage to the main rotor blades, tail rotor, tail boom, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that the helicopter and engines had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2009, at 1600 Pacific daylight time, an Agusta A109, N129AL, landed hard in a athletic field 1 mile from the Page Municipal Airport, Page, Arizona. Omniflight Helicopters operated the helicopter under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a positioning flight. The commercial pilot was not injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan had been filed. The helicopter departed Mesa, Arizona, at 1414. The pilot reported that at 70 miles from his destination he determined that he would be landing closer to minimum fuel than he had planned. He continued to the destination and passed the Tuba City Airport because it did not have any services. At 35 miles from the destination, the low fuel caution-warning for fuel tank 2 illuminated, followed by a low fuel caution-warning for fuel tank 1. The pilot continued to fly to his destination, and thought he would still land with some reserve. Approximately 1 mile from the destination airport the helicopter experienced a dual engine flame-out. The pilot autorotated to a sports field where the helicopter landed hard, sustaining damage to the main rotor blades, tail rotor, tail boom, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that the helicopter and engines had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N129AL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N129AL), registered now, S/N 10029 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AGUSTA A109 (K2) - Registry model: [Agusta S P A A109K2](https://openairdocs.org/model/agusta-s-p-a-a109k2) (registry code 0260502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca ARRIEL-1SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-arriel-1ser) (registry code 60030, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 10029 - Airframe hours: 5606 - Engines: TURBOMECA ARRIEL1 738 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Omniflight Helicopters - Registered owner: Trevor Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 4, 2009 - Departed: KIWA, Mesa, AZ - Destination: KPGA, Page, AZ - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: KPGA, Page Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2009; flight hours: 4,380 total, 120 in this make and model, 4,230 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 12 °F - Observed at: KPGA ## 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 20090922019379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090922019379A), Sep 22, 2009: Agusta A109K2, Page, AZ, Substantial damage. The aircraft ran out of fuel and made a forced landing in the baseball field at Page high school, located in Page, AZ. Block 22- omniflight operates all… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74790. 986 KB in all. - Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319926&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Massie) (item 2, .PDF, 352 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319928&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Massie)-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319929&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - Helicopter Operator Info Supplement (item 4, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324082&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Helicopter%20Operator%20Info%20Supplement-Master.PDF 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.