# Accident 20050406008799A: Arofal OH58C, Colorado Spring, CO, April 6, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 6, 2005, 18:26 local time
- Place: Colorado Spring, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8339° N, 104.8214° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Colorado Springs, CO, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8339&lon=-104.8214&mi=10
- Aircraft: N198PD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N198PD) (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 250C20
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 437 total, 350 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050406008799A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.