What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On November 12, 2001, at approximately 1848 UTC (1348 EST) a Bell 407 received substantial damage as a result of an emergency landing near Parkers Lake, KY. The commercial pilot was operating the aircraft under 14 CFR 133, under contract to the us forest service, conducting fire fighting operations. The aircraft was utilizing a sling with "bambi bucket" during the operation. According to the pilot, during the 46th run of the operation while at cruise flight he heard a bang and the aircraft yawed to the right. Subsequently, he elected to make a landing in a clearing. During the approach the aircraft began to rotate to the right around the vertical axis. The pilot lost directional control on landing. As a result of the crash landing, the pilot received a broken right arm and right thigh laceration. There was no post crash fire. The pilot had departed big swag national park base camp at about 1130 EST for the operation. Review of the maintenance records and load plans revealed no abnormalities. Weather conditions at the time of the were VFR, sky clear, visibility 10, with winds light and variable.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON NOVEMBER 12, 2001, AT APPROXIMATELY 1848 UTC (1348 EST) A BELL 407 RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF AN EMERGENCY LANDING NEAR PARKERS LAKE, KY. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS OPERATING THE AIRCRAFT UNDER 14 CFR 133, UNDER CONTRACT TO THE US FOREST SERVICE, CONDUCTING FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UTILIZING A SLING WITH "BAMBI BUCKET" DURING THE OPERATION. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING THE 46TH RUN OF THE OPERATION WHILE AT CRUISE FLIGHT HE HEARD A BANG AND THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE ELECTED TO MAKE A LANDING IN A CLEARING. DURING THE APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROTATE TO THE RIGHT AROUND THE VERTICAL AXIS. THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING. AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH LANDING, THE PILOT RECEIVED A BROKEN RIGHT ARM AND RIGHT THIGH LACERATION. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED BIG SWAG NATIONAL PARK BASE CAMP AT ABOUT 1130 EST FOR THE OPERATION. REVIEW OF THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND LOAD PLANS REVEALED NO ABNORMALITIES. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE WERE VFR, SKY CLEAR, VISIBILITY 10, WITH WINDS LIGHT AND VARIABLE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.