# Accident 20000111004639A: Arofal OH58C, Lindrith, NM, January 11, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 11, 2000, 12:15 local time
- Place: Lindrith, NM
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.3006° N, 107.0391° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3006&lon=-107.0391&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31JA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31JA-2005-10-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58C (registry code 1181580, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AROFAL OH58C
- Reported engine: ALLSN T63A720
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total, 225 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN00TA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00TA042) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000111004639A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING AN ANNUAL GAME SURVEY WITH THREE EMPLOYEES OF THE JICARILLA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT. HE HAD BEEN AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS, AND WAS PLANNING ON RETURNING FOR FUEL.  WHILE FLYING ON AN EASTERLY HEADING AT 35 KNOTS AND 100 FT. AGL IN CALM WINDS, THE PILOT INITIATED A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A YAW TO THE RIGHT.  LEFT PEDAL WAS APPLIED TO COUNTERACT THE MOVEMENT WITH NO EFFECT.  THE PILOT LOWERED COLLECTIVE TO REDUCE THE TORQUE AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT.  HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE TO THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION TO REDUCE TORQUE ON THE AIRFRAME.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SPIN AND AS IT WAS APPROACHING THE GROUND, HE PULLED THE PITCH BACK TO CUSHION THE LANDING.  THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE TOP OF A PINION TREE AND CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.  THE DAY FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, AN FAA MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR PERFORMED AN INSPECTION OF THE TAIL ROTOR SYSTEM AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.  DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS CALCULATED TO BE 7,240 FEET ABOVE MSL.

## 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 DEN00TA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00TA042), Jan 11, 2000: Bell OH-58C (N31JA), Lindrith, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of tail rotor effectiveness while maneuvering. A factor was the high density altitude.

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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