Bell OH-58C accident near Colorado Sprngs, Colorado, April 8, 2005
On April 8, 2005, a Bell OH-58C (helicopter), registered N198PD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colorado Sprngs, Colorado. It was a public-use flight (local) under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the N1 tachometer generator which resulted in a precautionary landing. Contributing factors include the frayed wire and the unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 8, 2005
- Place
- Colorado Sprngs, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell OH-58C · all OH-58Cs on the register
- Registration
- N198PD · registry record · serial 68-16947
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (local) · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was orbiting over a campus when the "engine out light illuminated in the cockpit," followed by an "audible engine out alarm" and the "N1 gauge dropped." The pilot elected to perform a precautionary landing to a field. The pilot stated that the terrain sloped uphill and the helicopter stopped "abruptly" and rock back and forth. A postaccident examination revealed that the N1 Tachometer Generator had failed. Further examination revealed that the N1 tachometer generator wire was not connected to the cannon plug and frayed. Examination of the helicopter's remaining systems revealed no anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 437 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 288 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,433.3 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce Allison 250 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Sprngs CO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.