# NTSB WPR10CA285: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, N38110, Los Banos, CA, June 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2010, 20:30 local (Jun 11, 2010, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Los Banos, CA - Coordinates: 36.983333, -120.666664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9833&lon=-120.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA Fresno FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA285 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and the pilot's failure to verify the fuel quantity onboard. ## 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: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=8930103), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=8930103), [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-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=8930103), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=8930103), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during an aerial application flight he lined up for a downwind spray pass at an approximate height of three feet above the crop. During the pass the engine sputtered and died. He entered an auto-rotation and attempted to slow the aircraft down from 50 MPH. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain and came to rest on its side. The pilot noted that the helicopter was refueled for the second time during the job about an hour prior to the accident. An FAA Inspector's report noted that the helicopter was not refueled to its proper quantity, causing the pilot to miscalculate the fuel on-board. Post impact inspection of the aircraft revealed an estimated two gallons or less of fuel in the tank, and that there were no ruptures in the fuel tank. During the on-scene inspection there was no odor of fuel at the accident site. Post-recovery engine tests revealed that the engine operated without any significant issues and fuel contamination was ruled out. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during an aerial application flight he lined up for a downwind spray pass at an approximate height of three feet above the crop. During the pass the engine sputtered and died. He entered an auto-rotation and attempted to slow the aircraft down from 50 MPH. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain and came to rest on its side. The pilot noted that the helicopter was refueled for the second time during the job about an hour prior to the accident. An FAA Inspector's report noted that the helicopter was not refueled to its proper quantity, causing the pilot to miscalculate the fuel on-board. Post impact inspection of the aircraft revealed an estimated two gallons or less of fuel in the tank, and that there were no ruptures in the fuel tank. During the on-scene inspection there was no odor of fuel at the accident site. Post-recovery engine tests revealed that the engine operated without any significant issues and fuel contamination was ruled out. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38110](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38110), registered now, S/N 77-010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TEXAS HELICOPTER CORP OH-13E/M74 - Registry model: [Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74](https://openairdocs.org/model/texas-helicopter-oh-13e-m74) (registry code 8930103) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 77-010 - Airframe hours: 8188 - Engines: Lycoming VO-435A1F 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Bettencourt Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Bettencourt Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 2010 - Departed: Atwater, CA - Destination: Los Banos, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 31, 2009; seat: center; flight hours: 18,115 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 17,961 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 310° at 7 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F - Observed at: 8 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 20100610005279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100610005279A), Jun 10, 2010: Texas Helic OH-13E/M74, Los Banos, CA, Substantial damage. During an aerial application, the engine quit operating causing the helicopter to crash. There were no injuries associated with this accident. This accident… ## Other investigations on N38110 (2) 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. - [NTSB LAX94LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA084), Dec 28, 1993: Texas Helicopter OH-13E/M74L (N38110), Los Banos, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO UTILIZE CARBURETOR HEAT. THE CARBURETOR ICING CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. - [NTSB LAX81DUG52](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUG52), Sep 25, 1981: Texas Hel OH-13E (N38110), Blythe, CA, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76297. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331673&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331670&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Telephone Call (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331667&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Call-Master.PDF - Fueler Statement (item 4, .PDF, 387 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331669&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fueler%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 5, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331720&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.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.