THE HELICOPTER CRASHED WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE. THE PILOT HAD MODIFIED THE COWLING AND HAD ONLY COMPLETED THE FIRST PHASE OF HIS TRAINING IN THIS AIRCRAFT. THE SCHOOL WARNED THE STUDENT NOT TO TRY ADVANCED FLYING WITHOUT MORE INSTRUCTION. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE PILOT REFUELING THE HELICOPTER WITH A PARTIALLY FILLED, 5 GAL CAN OF AUTOMOBILE GASOLINE. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY WHEN THE PILOT BEGAN REFUELING. THEREFORE, THE WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE HELICOPTER HAD 5 GAL OR LESS ON BOARD WHEN IT TOOK OFF. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE ENGINE USED 8 TO 9 GAL PER HOUR. AFTER FLYING 15 TO 20 MIN, THE HELICOPTER ENTERED A DESCENT AND CRASHED. VIRTUALLY NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE HELICOPTER, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT FUEL HAD DRAINED OUT AT THE CRASH SITE.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:

Contributing Factors

OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY..PILOT IN COMMAND

Contributing Factors

INADEQUATE TRANSITION/UPGRADE TRAINING..PILOT IN COMMAND

Index for Nov1982 | Index of months