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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Past the halfway mark ... Big dreams ... Man arrested for allegedly firing gun at several area businesses ... Past the halfway mark ... Big dreams ... Man arrested for allegedly firing gun at several area businesses ... NTSB: Helicopter that crashed Nov. 27 didn't have enough fuel The Ashland-based Hughes 369D, which was required to have a 2-gallon minimum, had just 20 ounces at the time A helicopter owned by Ashland-based Brim Aviation involved in a fatal crash Nov. 27 near Childress, Texas, had only about 20 ounces of fuel on board, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board said. Comment By Sam Wheeler MailTribune.com By Sam Wheeler Posted Jan. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM Updated Jan 12, 2013 at 2:35 AM By Sam Wheeler Posted Jan. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM Updated Jan 12, 2013 at 2:35 AM » Social News A helicopter owned by Ashland-based Brim Aviation involved in a fatal crash Nov. 27 near Childress, Texas, had only about 20 ounces of fuel on board, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board said. The Hughes 369D rotorcraft's operating manual requires the helicopter to maintain a minimum of about 2 gallons of fuel, said Mitchell Gallo, the NTSB air safety investigator leading the investigation. Gallo said the helicopter's auxiliary fuel tank was empty. "One of the things we know is that the amount of fuel onboard was below that which was usable," Gallo said. Gallo said the cause of the crash was not yet determined, but "there was a loss of engine power." Gallo said it could take up to a year before the investigation is complete. "At this point, I can't talk about cause, or anything like that," he said. According to the Amarillo Globe-News, Jonathan David Suhr, 23, who was living in McLean, Texas, was suspended about 50 feet below the helicopter hanging a roller conductor lifter on a power line when the helicopter crashed. Suhr, who was originally from Hayden, Idaho, according to an online obituary, died at Childress Regional Medical Center as a result of the crash, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Although there were reports that the helicopter may have landed on Suhr, Gallo said, "there is no indication that happened." The helicopter, which was hovering about 150 feet off the ground, was piloted by Keith Hard, 42, of Butte County, Calif., the Globe-News reported. Hard was taken to Childress Regional Medical Center for back injuries. Since the incident, numerous telephone messages left at Brim Aviation's Ashland office have not been returned. Brim employees who were reached declined to comment on the crash. According to its website, Brim Aviation is a utility helicopter company that specializes in air rescue, aerial ignition, precision long line operations, power line construction, and aerial photography. It maintains offices in Ashland, Arizona and Alaska. Reach Ashland Daily Tidings reporter Sam Wheeler at 541-499-1470 or email [email protected]. By Sam Wheeler MailTribune.com By Sam Wheeler Posted Jan. 12, 2013 at 12:01 AM Updated Jan 12, 2013 at 2:35 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501