Steward Rocky 162F N717CS

Summary

On 16 June 2004 at about 18:30 local time, a Steward Rocky 162F registered N717CS was involved in an accident near Hood River, Oregon, 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

16 June 2004 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hood River, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

45.6439, -121.5844

Aircraft

Steward Rocky 162F

Registration

N717CS

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hood River → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA04CA107

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's miscalculation of fuel consumption and his inadequate in-flight planning/decision, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and loss of engine power. A factor was the high vegetation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During cruise at 2,200 feet mean sea level, the helicopter lost engine power, necessitating the pilot to make an autorotation. Having departed earlier in the morning with full fuel and making two previous flights, the pilot felt he had sufficient fuel for a third flight. On the return leg of the third flight the pilot noticed the engine LOW RPM light illuminate, a low RPM needle indication, a high manifold pressure gage indication, but no LOW FUEL warning light. Assuming he had lost engine power, the pilot made an autorotation to an open hay field. During the landing sequence into the high vegetation, the aircraft initially went up on its nose before rolling over on its left side. A post accident examination revealed no fuel was present when the right tank was dipped, and that 4 to 6 ounces of fuel was present when the helicopter's common drain was opened. The pilot indicated that during the course of the day he was using higher takeoff power settings due to the warmer weather, and that his miscalculations had caused him to run out of fuel.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.