# Accident 20030725017499A: Kaman K1200, Keller, WA, July 25, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 25, 2003, 17:03 local time
- Place: Keller, WA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: H9UL
- Location: 48.1219° N, 118.7489° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1219&lon=-118.7489&mi=10
- Aircraft: N314KA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N314KA-2006-08-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Kaman Aerospace K-1200 (registry code 13027LS, https://openairdocs.org/model/kaman-aerospace-k-1200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honeywell T5317 series (registry code 33907, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-t5317-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KAMAN K1200
- Reported engine: LYC T5317A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 12,500 total, 5,000 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA03GA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03GA153) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030725017499A

## Narrative

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

(-23) N314KA/K-1200/SN: A940015 HAD BEEN CONTRACTED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND WAS BEING OPERATED AS PUBLIC USE AIRCRAFT. THE OWNER/OPERATOR WAS SUPERIOR HELICOPTERS, LLC LOCATED IN GRANTS PASS, OR (H9UL). THE AIRCRAFT HAS JUST COMPLETED A RELEASE OF WATER FROM A BAMBI BUCKET SUSPENDED BY A 150' LONG LINE AND WAS RETURNING FOR A RE-FILL. THE PILOT RADIOED HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM, SECONDS LATER HE WAS HEARD TO SAY HE WAS GOING DOWN. THIS WAS HIS LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND INVERTED, NOSE DOWN ON IT'S LEFT SIDE. A POST CRASH FIRE THAT DESTROYED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE ENGINE FORWARD CONSUMED BOTH THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PILOT. ALL 4 MAIN ROTOR BLADES WERE LOCATED AND WERE BROKEN OFF AT THE ATTACH POINT AT THE MAIN ROTOR YOKES. BOTH MAIN ROTOR HEADS WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS FROM THE MAIN IMPACT WRECKAGE. THE BAMBI BUCKET AND LONG LINE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS FROM THE MAIN IMPACT WRECKAGE. IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE LONG LINE AND SUSPENSION CABLES OF THE BAMBI BUCKET SHOWED SIGNS OF FRAYING AND CONTACT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF LEADING EDGE DAMAGE ORCONTACT OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THERE WERE NO EYE WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT, HOWEVER, THERE WERE THREE WITNESS STATEMENTS FROM GROUND FIRE FIGHTERS THAT STATE THEY HEARD A "BANG/POP" SOUND AND A CHANGE IN SOUND OF THE ENGINE BEFORE GROUND IMPACT. ON JULY 25, 2003, FUEL SAMPLES WERE TAKEN TO THE FUELS TESTING LAB AT FAIRCHILD AFB, SPOKANE, WA FOR TESTING. THE FUEL TESTED AS JET-A WITH NO SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS.

## 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 SEA03GA153](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03GA153), Jul 26, 2003: Kaman K-1200 (N314KA), Keller, WA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Corrosion fatigue within the blade retention bolt bushing(s) of the main rotor blade grip resulting in fatigue, cracking and ultimate separation of the upper grip plate. The separation of the upper…

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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