Enstrom F-28 N756H

Summary

On 13 January 2016 at about 17:40 local time, a Enstrom F-28 registered N756H, operated by Cliff Hoeft, was involved in an accident near Ritter Butte, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 January 2016 at 17:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Ritter Butte, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

44.8339, -119.0731

Aircraft

Enstrom F-28

Registration

N756H

Category

Helicopter

Year built

1988

Engines

1

Operator

Cliff Hoeft

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Long Creek → Long Creek

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16LA100

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the commercial pilot, the purpose of the flight was predator animal control in an area of adjoining ranches. The pilot stated that, during the flight, the fuel indicator began bouncing back and forth and reading erratically. Subsequently, the pilot used his watch to time the fuel burn to determine when he had to return to the fuel point. As the pilot was about to return to the fuel point, the fuel indicator stabilized, indicating that the fuel tank was about one-quarter full, and the pilot then flew toward the fuel truck. When the helicopter was about 100 ft above the terrain, the low fuel indicator illuminated, followed by the loss of engine power. The pilot estimated that about a 20-mph tailwind existed, so he performed a 180-degree turn to point the helicopter's nose into the wind while entering an autorotation. After completing the 180-degree turn, the pilot did not see any flat or open terrain and chose to land on a rocky outcropping. While the pilot was trying to avoid landing in trees, the helicopter impacted terrain, which resulted in the helicopter sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and main rotor gear box.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.