Accident Hiller UH-12E Soloy N401HA, Saturday 1 October 1983

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Date:	Saturday 1 October 1983
Time:	17:00 LT
Type:	Hiller UH-12E Soloy
Owner/operator:	Quick Helicopters
Registration:	N401HA
MSN:	4001
Total airframe hrs:	2500 hours
Engine model:	Allison 250-C20B
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Tenino, WA - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Tenino, WA
Destination airport:	Tenino, WA
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PLT VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF & THOUGHT HE HAD SEEN FUEL IN THE TANKS. THE FUEL GAUGES WERE INOPERATIVE & HE WAS USING TIMING AS A METHOD TO DETERMINE THE REMAINING FUEL. APRX 5 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENG LOST POWER AS HE WAS LINING UP FOR A SWATH RUN OVER TIMBER. HE CHOSE TO USE HIS AUTOROTATION RPM TO REACH A CLEARING. DURING A RUN-ON LANDING, THE TAIL BOOM OF THE HELICOPTER HIT UPSLOPING TERRAIN & FAILED. THE ACFT THEN ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD EXHAUSTED HIS FUEL SUPPLY.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: