| Crash location | 27.359444°N, 89.485833°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Fort Pierce, FL
27.446706°N, 80.325606°W 561.8 miles away |
| Tail number | N5689B |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 26 Feb 2011 |
| Aircraft type | Enstrom F-28C |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot of the helicopter stated that the fuel gauge indicated "one-eighth to one-quarter" full on takeoff. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet, the low fuel pressure light illuminated, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed a 180-degree autorotation to a parking lot, and the helicopter landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the left skid and tail boom. During postaccident examination, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector drained approximately 3 ounces of fuel from the gascolator. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the helicopter, and that he "ran it out of fuel" by "trusting the gauge."
The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.