• The crash site of VH-PLY near Hawker. (SA Police)
    The crash site of VH-PLY near Hawker. (SA Police)
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A McDonnell Douglas 369D helicopter crashed near Hawker in 2016 after it ran out of fuel, according to an ATSB investigation report released today.

VH-PLY was on powerline inspection operations on 17 July 2016 when it crashed 36 km west of Hawker, SA, injuring the three crew members and destroying the aircraft.

The ATSB investigation found that the pilot had requested full fuel from the refueler, but had been told in error that the aircraft had been refueled. The pilot conducted a fuel quality check, but during pre-flight was distracted by another operator, which led to a visual fuel quantity check being missed.

As a result, the pilot left on the flight believing there was 350 litres on board when there was only the 170 litres left from the previous day's operations.

During the accident flight, the pilot managed the fuel based on time and so didn't detect the low fuel at any stage. About two hours into the accident flight, the engine "just stopped" 100 feet above the ground and the pilot tried to guide the aircraft to a cleared area, but wasn't able to arrest the rate of descent.

In it's findings, the ATSB found that the lack of visual check and the fuel management by time contributed to the accident, as did the presence of an auxilliary fuel tank fitted to the aircraft without a fuel quantity indicator. Believing the aircraft left with full fuel, the pilot had presumed this meant the auxilliary tank was also full.

The ATSB also found that CASA did not require operators to publish procedures for determining the fuel on board before or during commercial operations if the aircraft had a maximum take-off weight of less that 5700 kg, which the ATSB said "increases the risk that operators in this category will not implement effective fuel policies and training to prevent fuel exhaustion events."

The full investigation report is on the ATSB website.

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