What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) During cruise, while conducting a photo mission, the pilot privacy data omitted of the Colorado springs police departement, acting as the pilot in command of N198PD received an "engine out" light, along with an audible warning. The pilot privacy data omitted implemented emergency procedures, landing the helicopter in a field on the U.S. Air force academy. The only damage noted was a crease in the boom, which appeared to be caused by the inertia of stopping slightly uphill. There was no visible boom contact with the ground or contact of the rotors. The mechanic's assessment was to replace the boom and conduct a hard landing inspection. The cause of the engine out light and audible warning was a broken wire from the tach generator. Inquiry of the statement from a witness that a switch was initially inoperative after takeoff, the pilot stated it took 3 transmissions for the transponder to be seen by the tower. This was not a factor in the accident.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) DURING CRUISE, WHILE CONDUCTING A PHOTO MISSION, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA^ OF THE COLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTEMENT, ACTING AS THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF N198PD RECEIVED AN "ENGINE OUT" LIGHT, ALONG WITH AN AUDIBLE WARNING. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA^ IMPLEMENTED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, LANDING THE HELICOPTER IN A FIELD ON THE U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY. THE ONLY DAMAGE NOTED WAS A CREASE IN THE BOOM, WHICH APPEARED TO BE CAUSED BY THE INERTIA OF STOPPING SLIGHTLY UPHILL. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE BOOM CONTACT WITH THE GROUND OR CONTACT OF THE ROTORS. THE MECHANIC'S ASSESSMENT WAS TO REPLACE THE BOOM AND CONDUCT A HARD LANDING INSPECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE OUT LIGHT AND AUDIBLE WARNING WAS A BROKEN WIRE FROM THE TACH GENERATOR. INQUIRY OF THE STATEMENT FROM A WITNESS THAT A SWITCH WAS INITIALLY INOPERATIVE AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STATED IT TOOK 3 TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE TRANSPONDER TO BE SEEN BY THE TOWER. THIS WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.