ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 297464
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| Date: | Thursday 28 March 2002 |
| Time: | 17:31 LT |
| Type: |  Bell OH-58A |
| Owner/operator: | Butte Co Sheriff's Department |
| Registration: | N487BC |
| MSN: | 40658 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1970 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4728 hours |
| Engine model: | Allison C250B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Chico, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Chico Airport, CA (CIC/KCIC) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
While en route to the helicopter base, the pilot detected a left yaw, followed by a low main rotor speed warning. After he lowered the collective, the main rotor light went out. He glanced at the N1 gage (gas producer tachometer) and noted it at 70 percent and decreasing. No other warning lights were visible on the caution panel. An autorotation was performed to a field and the helicopter touched down hard. During the landing, the main rotor flexed downward and severed the tail boom. The engine was running at idle after the landing and the pilot performed a manual shutdown. An engine examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact failures. The operator reported that pilots were trained annually on emergency procedures through oral and flight testing. It had been over a year since the pilot's last emergency training. Department pilots were not allowed to practice autorotations without the Chief Pilot on board, or prior written approval. The pilot had not practiced an autorotation in over 1 year prior to the accident.
Probable Cause: the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Factors in the accident were the pilot's misjudged flare resulting in a hard landing and the lack of recent experience in emergency procedures by the pilot.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB LAX02TA118
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Oct-2022 18:56 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 30-May-2023 01:57 | Ron Averes | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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