BEDFORD, PA, USA
N5106Y
HUGHES 500D
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE HELICOPTER TOOK OFF WITH UNDER 200 LBS OF FUEL INDICATING ON THE FUEL GAGE. FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AT 125 FT AGL THE ENGINE OUT WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE ACFT BEGAN TO ROTATE ABOUT ITS VETICAL AXIS AND DESCENDED. AT THIS POINT THE PLT OBSERVED THE FUEL GAGE TO BE 'ONE NEEDLE WIDTH BELOW THE 100 LB MARK.' THE PLT LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE ALMOST TO THE BOTTOM THEN PULLED IT ALL THE WAY UP JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT WHICH OCCURRED IN A DESCENT RATE OF 800 TO 1000 FPM. THE IMPACT BROKE THE RIGHT SKID AND THE HELICOPTER ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. AN INSPECTION OF THE ACFT FUEL SYSTEM FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE ANKS AND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FUEL INDICATING SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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