Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101
Sunday, August 12, 2001 11:45 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter was being used to support seismic operations in the area and had just dropped off several bags of equipment. The pilot made a right pedal turn to move away from a steep hillside at an altitude of 200 feet agl and an airspeed of 20 to 30 knots. The engine lost power, and the helicopter began descending. The pilot initiated an autorotation. The helicopter landed hard on the right rear skid, which collapsed dropping the helicopter onto its right side. Examination revealed a total of 2 quarts of fuel in the fuel cells. No water or contaminants were detected in the fuel. One ounce of fuel was drained from the engine fuel filter, and 3 ounces of fuel were drained from the engine-driven fuel pump filter bowl. No fuel was found in the engine supply line.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to refuel the aircraft, which resulted in a loss of engine power. A contributing factor was the unsuitable steep terrain on which to make a forced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/12/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Kemmerer
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 83101
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11474
NTSB Notification Source FAA NW OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Aug 12 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2002 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office CASPER, WY

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N530TJ
NTSB Number DEN01LA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Hughes
Aircraft Model 369FF
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0041FF
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 25 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 2744
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Textron Financial Corp.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9001 Airport Fwy., Suite 800
Aircraft Owner City Fort Worth
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76180
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Omni Aviation Services, LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. Box 3761
Operator City Lafayette
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 70502
Operator Code A5OL
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation External Load
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Kemmerer
Departure State WY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Hover - out of ground effect
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 28 2002 10:53AM
User who most recently changed record MCBM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --