# NTSB WPR13CA342: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, N500PH, Hilo, HI, July 25, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2013, 13:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Hilo, HI - Coordinates: 19.723054, -155.057785 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.7231&lon=-155.0578&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administratin - NTSB case key (mKey): 87585 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87585/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87585 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA342 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper planning and mismanagement of the fuel supply, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. ## 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 management (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=3027369), [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: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=3027369), [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. - [Approach: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=3027369), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) ## Analysis During a round trip tour flight, the pilot determined that the fuel state was low, and decided to return to the airport. The flight entered the airport environment and the pilot requested priority handling for a low fuel state. The engine subsequently lost power and the pilot initiated an autorotation to a field at the approach end of the runway. During the landing the helicopter's skid collapsed and the helicopter rolled over on to its right side which resulted in substantial damage. The operator indicated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative During a round trip tour flight, the pilot determined that the fuel state was low, and decided to return to the airport. The flight entered the airport environment and the pilot requested priority handling for a low fuel state. The engine subsequently lost power and the pilot initiated an autorotation to a field at the approach end of the runway. During the landing the helicopter's skid collapsed and the helicopter rolled over on to its right side which resulted in substantial damage. The operator indicated that there were no preimpact malfunctions or failures with the engine or airframe that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N500PH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N500PH), registered now, S/N 0187E (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HELICOPTER 369E - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-helicopter-369e) (registry code 3027369) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 0187E - Airframe hours: 19255 - Engines: Rolls Royce CAE-840027 420 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Paradise Helicopters - Registered owner: K & S Helicopters Inc DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 10, 2013 - Departed: PHTO, Hilo, HI - Destination: PHTO, Hilo, HI - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PHTO, Hilo International Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,180 total, 80 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PHTO, 1 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 20130725014219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130725014219A), Jul 25, 2013: Mcdonnell Douglas Helicopter 369E, Hilo, HI, Substantial damage. The accident pilot was assigned to fly aircraft N500PH, an HU-369 helicopter, for a flightseeing tour of Hawaii island at 12:30 p.m. the pilot who had… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87585. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400665&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.