# Accident 20040915023479A: Arofal OH58C, Beaumont, TX, September 15, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 15, 2004, 22:37 local time
- Place: Beaumont, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: J0CM
- Location: 29.9508° N, 94.0206° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9508&lon=-94.0206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9273T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9273T-2005-01-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell OH-58C (registry code 1181580, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-oh-58c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Allison 250-C20 series (registry code 03020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-c20-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AROFAL OH58C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 2,510 total, 422 in this make and model, 107 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04TA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04TA237) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040915023479A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE ON A SEARCH MISSION AT NIGHT OVER WATER A BELL OH58C OPERATED BY JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WITH TWO ON BOARD WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT IMPACTED WATER, ONE FATAL. PILOT REPORTED THAT HE FLEW THE BELL OH58C FROM THE RIGHT SEAT THE PALLENGER WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT AND OPERATING A SEARCH LIGHT. THE HELICOPTER DESCENDING IN A SEARCHING PATTERN FROM AN ALTITUDE OF 500 FEET ON A CLEAR DARK NIGHT, NO MOON. THE LAST ALTIMETER READING THE PILOT SAW WAS 165 FEET. WHILE IN FORWARD FLIGHT AT 80 KNOTS PILOT MADE A SHARP RIGHT TURN, DURING TURN THE OH58C PLUNGED INTO THE LAKE.

## 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 FTW04TA237](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04TA237), Sep 16, 2004: Bell OH-58C (N9273T), Beaumont, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: **This probable cause was modified on 2/22/2016. Please see the public docket for this accident for additional details.** The pilot's failure to maintain a safe altitude, resulting in collision with…

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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