Hughes 369A N539

Summary

On 3 July 2001 at about 19:45 local time, a Hughes 369A registered N539 was involved in an accident near Wadesboro, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 2001 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Wadesboro, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Anson County Airport (AFP)

Coordinates

34.9590, -80.0602

Aircraft

Hughes 369A

Registration

N539

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wadesboro → Wadesboro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL01LA070

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning which resulted in fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power. A factor was rough and uneven terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on approach the helicopter lost engine power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot autorotated into a plowed field with tall grass and deep furrows damaging the left skid. The pilot stated that while landing the helicopter it began to nose over and he applied aft cyclic separating the tailboom with the main rotor blades. Examination of the helicopter found that the fuel tanks were void of fuel, and that the fuel quantity probe was stuck indication 50 pounds of fuel remaining.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.