# Accident 19980319006779A: Bell OH58B, Dulce, NM, March 19, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 19, 1998, 16:30 local time
- Place: Dulce, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9294° N, 106.9895° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9294&lon=-106.9895&mi=10
- Aircraft: N505JA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N505JA-2017-05-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58C (registry code 1181580, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH58B
- Reported engine: ALLSN T63A720
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 13,631 total, 803 in this make and model, 131 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98TA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98TA152) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980319006779A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LIFTED OFF HIGH MESA. REPORTED POWER LOSS. DROPPED INTO TREES. (.4) THE PILOT PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THE HELICOPTER FOR A FLIGHT FROM A 9,060 FOOT ELEVATION. ON DEPARTURE, THE PILOT REMEMBERED THE HELICOPTER YAWING NOSE LEFT, AND THE PASSENGER STATED THAT THE ENGINE BECAME QUIET AND THE HELICOPTER VIBRATION SEEMED TO STOP. THE PILOT AUTOROTATED TO THE STEEP SLOPING VEGETATED TERRAIN. POSTIMPACT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE FUEL CONTROLLER REVEALED THAT THE PC LINE HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE FUEL CONTROLLER. THE HELICOPTER RECEIVED ITS LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1997, 93 FLIGHT HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED A JICARILLA TRIBAL MEMBER CHANGING NAVIGATION LIGHT BULBS ON THE HELICOPTER; THE SAME INDIVIDUAL EXPRESSED FURTHER INTEREST IN PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE HELICOPTER. THE MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION THAT PERFORMED THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION DID NOT USE TORQUE PAINT ON THE PC LINE B-NUT, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER BUT NOT MANDATED BY FARS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT `BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE PC LINE CONNECTION TO THE FUEL CONTROLLER, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT, DURING A NORMAL PREFLIGHT INSPECTION,         TO DETERMINE IF THE PC LINE B-NUT WAS PROPERLY TORQUED OR IF IT WAS LOOSE.'(-23) AFTER TAKE-OFF A/C CLIMBED TO ABOUT 80' & STARTED FORWARD. AFTER CLEARING TREES AND POWER LINES PILOT MOVED THE CYCLIC FORWARD TO GAIN AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE. A/C DID NOT RESPOND, LOST POWER AND LANDED APPROXIMATELY 200' FROM POINT OF TAKE-OFF. A/C CAME TO REST ON L/H SIDE OF FUSELAGE AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE SLOPE OF THE TERRAIN. 2 SOULS ON BOARD SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98TA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98TA152), Mar 19, 1998: Bell OH-58C (N505JA), Dulce, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The partial loss of engine power due to a disconnected bleed air line to the fuel controller and the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. Factors were the loose B-nut, the inadequate maintenance…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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