ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 298191
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| Date: | Thursday 27 December 2001 |
| Time: | 13:05 LT |
| Type: |  Bell OH-58A |
| Owner/operator: | El Paso Police |
| Registration: | N76PD |
| MSN: | 41503 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1971 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 4233 hours |
| Engine model: | Rolls-Royce T63A-720 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | El Paso, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | El Paso International Airport, TX (ELP/KELP) |
| Santa Teresa, TX (5T6) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The helicopter departed and was in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl (approximately 500 feet agl) when the pilot heard a "muffled pop." Approximately 2 seconds had passed when the pilot heard a second muffled pop, followed by either the low rotor rpm or engine out warning horn. The pilot then entered an autorotation to a residential street. During the autorotation, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter to avoid a moving ground vehicle. Subsequently, the main rotor blades contacted trees, the helicopter landed hard, and it came to rest upright. The pilot had accumulated 865 hours in helicopters with 4 hours in the make and model of the accident helicopter, at the time of the accident. The engine was examined; its outer casing was intact and there was no evidence of a catastrophic engine failure. A pneumatic check was performed and no leaks were found. The fuel lines were examined and no loose fittings or fuel leaks were found. The engine was removed from the airframe, placed in a test cell, and a test run was performed. The engine operated within the manufacturer's specifications at idle, cruise, takeoff, and maximum power settings. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
Probable Cause: The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing. A contributing factor was the moving ground vehicle.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW02TA060
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Oct-2022 15:07 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
| 31-May-2023 07:57 | Ron Averes | Updated |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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