# Accident 20040503007199A: Bell OH58A, Bakersfield, CA, May 3, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 3, 2004, 23:30 local time
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Airport: Meadows Field
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Pwr Off Vert Land/Autorotate
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.4097° N, 118.9764° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4097&lon=-118.9764&mi=10
- Aircraft: N397E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N397E-2024-02-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58A (registry code 1181579, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL OH58A
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C20F
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,773 total, 548 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04TA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04TA202) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040503007199A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 3, 2004, AT 2330 PACIFIC TIME N397E A OH-58A+ HELICOPTER LOST POWER DURING A TURN AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. N397E WAS BEING OPERATED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE AIRCRAFT WITH NO AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. THE COMMERCIAL HELICOPTER PILOT AND THE TACTICAL FLIGHT OFFICER WERE NOT INJURED WHEN THE HELICOPTER STRUCK POWER LINES ON APPROACH TO THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED AS VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED DURING A 180 DEGREE TURN TO RESPOND TO A CALL A "BOOM" SOUND FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE AIRCRAFT SHUDDERED. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT AN ADDITIONAL "BOOM" WAS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE OUT AUDIO WARNING WITH WARNING LIGHTS. THE AIRSPEED WAS AT 60 KNOTS DURING THE AUTOROTATION THE SKIDS AND TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE POWER LINES CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES AND THE TAIL BOOM OF THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 LAX04TA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04TA202), May 4, 2004: Bell OH-58A+ (N397E), Bakersfield, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: loss of engine power due to the separation of the diaphragm portion of the repaired second-stage turbine nozzle from the rim portion due to the use of an inadequate cleaning method to clean the joint…

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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