ENGLEWOOD, CO, USA
N4KF
SCORPION 133
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.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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