# Accident 19980617016129A: Doug 600N, Laguna Beach, CA, June 17, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 1998, 12:40 local time
- Place: Laguna Beach, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Vertical (Helicopter Only)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.5432° N, 117.7618° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Laguna Beach, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5432&lon=-117.7618&mi=10
- Aircraft: N185SD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUG 600N
- Reported engine: ALLSN 250C47M
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,681 total, 161 in this make and model, 164 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98TA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98TA202) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980617016129A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TEST A PORTABLE WATER SOURCE, CALLED THE PUMPKIN, TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS AN ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF PROVIDING WATER FOR BAMBI BUCKET OPERATIONS. THE PUMPKIN IS A RUBBERIZED CIRCULAR BAG, WHICH STANDS APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET HIGH AND IS APPROXIMATELY 7-8 FEET IN DIAMETER.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE NOTED THAT THE ROTOR DOWNWASH WAS BLOWING THE TOP PORTION OF THE PUMPKIN (THE PORTION ABOVE THE WATER LINE) WIDE OPEN.  AS THE PILOT RAISED THE COLLECTIVE TO DEPART, THE ROTOR WASH BLEW THE TOP PART OF THE PUMPKIN CLOSED, WHICH OVERLAPPED AND SNAGGED THE REAR PORTION OF THE LEFT SKID.  THE HELICOPTER TILTED BACK AND THE TAIL SECTION STRUCK THE ASPHALT.  THE HELICOPTER SPUN 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT JUST AS THE PILOT WAS ABOUT TO JETTISON THE BUCKET.  THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND ON ITS REAR LEFT SIDE.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ABNORMAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.  HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS NOT IN COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OF THE GROUND CREWMEMBERS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.                                            (-23)WHILE CONDUCTING PRACTICE WATER PICKUP FROM A PORTABLE RUBBER WATER CO NTAINER (APPX 10' DIAMETER X 4' DEEP) WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD SHORT LINE (APPX 10' LENGTH) AND BAMBI BUCKET, THE PILOTLOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE LEFT REAR LANDING GEAR SKID CONTACTED THE WATER TANK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROLL TO THE LEFT AND CRASH ON ITS SIDE.  A POST ACCIDENT REEXAMINATION OF THE PILOT'S COMPETENCY IN PERFORMING THE SPECIAL OPERATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE PUBLIC AGENCY INVOLED.  COUNSELING WAD ADMINISTERED TO THE PILOT BY THE FAA INVESTIGATION INSPECTOR.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98TA202](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98TA202), Jun 17, 1998: McDonnell Douglas 600N (N185SD), Laguna Beach, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadvertent entanglement of an external load, which interfered with the pilot's ability to control the aircraft.

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.

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