An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board shows that damage to the Omaha Police Department's helicopter was caused by a partial loss of engine power after taking off.
Able 1 had just left the North Omaha Airport early on April 16th when the pilot and co-pilot noticed a problem. It was at about 250 feet when there was a loss of power. The pilot tried an auto-rotation in an attempt to recover rotor RMP.
That pilot made a safe landing in a field.That is when the helicopter rocked forward and back and that caused the main rotor blades to contact the tail boom. The tail boom then broke away from the frame.
No one was hurt.