# Accident 20061001019979A: Skrsky S64E, CA, October 1, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 1, 2006, 11:00 local time
- Place: CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: E8KL
- Location: 34.5483° N, 119.1867° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5483&lon=-119.1867&mi=10
- Aircraft: N189AC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N189AC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Erickson S64E (registry code 7400000, https://openairdocs.org/model/erickson-s64e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JFTD12A-4A (registry code 51502, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jftd12a-4a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKRSKY S64E
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,700 total, 780 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX07TA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07TA001) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061001019979A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 1ST 2006, AN EXCLUSIVE USE ERICKSON AIR-CRANE S-64 HELICOPTER, N189AC, OPERATED BY ERICKSON AIR-CRANE OF CENTRAL POINT, OREGON, HAD JUST DRAFTED THE LAST 200 GALLONS OF RETARDANT FROM A PORTABLE RETARDANT TANK. THE PILOT THEN REPOSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT TO A SECOND TANK THAT WAS HOLDING FRESH WATER (APPROXIMATELY 25 YARDS AWAY FROM RETARDANT TANK) TO TOP OFF HIS TANK. WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE SECOND TANK, THE SNORKEL BECAME LODGED ON A METAL 3.5 X 1.5" TANK SUPORT RING (THAT SURROUNDS THE PERIMETER) AND LIFTING EYE ATTACHED TO THE RING. THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OBSERVED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PITCH DOWN. THE PILOT PULLED AFT CYCLIC AND APPLIED ADDITIONAL POWER BY LIFTING THE COLLECTIVE. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT RESPONDED IN A LEFT BANK NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE. THE TAIL SKID CONTACTED THE GROUND AS THE AIRCRAFT SPUN AROUND TO THE LEFT. ON THE FIRST ROTATION THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE RETARDANT TANK NO. 2. TWO OF THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES WERE SEVERED (SYMMETRICALLY) APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES FROM THE TIP. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED SPINNING TO THE LEFT AND THE TAIL ROTOR TRANSMISSION CONTACTED THE RETARDANT TANK A SECOND TIME. THE TAIL ROTOR GEARBOX ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND APPROXIMATELY THE LAST 1/3 OF THE TAIL BOOM SEPARATED THE AIRCRAFT ON IMPACT WITH RETARDANT NO. 2. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE GROUND AND COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT ONTO THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD CAUSING THE BLADES TO DEPART THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.

## 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 LAX07TA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07TA001), Oct 1, 2006: Erickson S64E (N189AC), Ojai, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command's improper remedial action, which resulted in a loss of helicopter control. Contributing factors were the retardant tank and snorkel designs.

## Other reports on N189AC (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20020714034489I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020714034489I), Jul 14, 2002: Skrsky S64E (N189AC), Bishop, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) The safecom report was generated by the U.S. Forest service and conveyed that a model 64E helicopter, N189AC, was engaged in water drops on the Piper…

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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