# Accident 20090717016169A: Croman SH3H, Willow Creek, CA, July 17, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 17, 2009, 15:10 local time
- Place: Willow Creek, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: JYEL
- Location: 40.8858° N, 123.6406° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8858&lon=-123.6406&mi=10
- Aircraft: N613CK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N613CK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Croman SH-3H (registry code 2490000, https://openairdocs.org/model/croman-sh-3h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: GE T58-GE-402 (registry code 30156, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-t58-ge-402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CROMAN SH3H
- Reported engine: GE T58-GE-402
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 21,000 total, 9,000 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09TA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09TA353) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090717016169A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WILLOW CREEK HELIBASE LOCATED .2 NAUTICAL MILES NORTH OF THE TOWN OF WILLOW CREEK, CA, AT 1416 HOURS LOCAL TIME TO SUPPORT AERIAL WATER DROP OPERATIONS ON THE SHASTA/TRINITY NATIONAL FOREST FIRE.  AFTER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING FOUR (4) MISSIONS OF WATER DROP EVENTS ON THE ACTIVE FIRE BY TRANSITIONING FROM THE HIGH POINT HELIWELL LOCATED OFF FOREST SERVICE ROAD 10N04 AT LATITUDE 41.10.866 N, LONGITUDE 123.22.480 W, AT AN ELEVATION OF 5000 FEET MSL.  AT 1510 HOURS LOCAL TIME THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE HELIWELL BY ENTERING FINAL APPROACH FROM THE SOUTH.  THE PIC WAS AT THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND THE SNORKEL WAS LOWERED INTO THE HELIWELL, THE PIC SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL (NOSE RIGHT) TO A SOUTHERLY HEADING FOR A STANDARD SOUTH DEPARTURE.  DURING LIFT OFF THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A DROOP CONDITION.  THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TANK AND BANKED LEFT SHEARING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR OFF.  THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER ON THE HILLSIDE.  THE CREW WAS ABLE TO EXTRICATE THEMSELVES FROM THE AIRCRAFT WITH MINOR INJURIES.

## 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 WPR09TA353](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09TA353), Jul 17, 2009: Croman SH-3H (N613CK), Willow Creek, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate power during egress from a heliwell, which resulted in collision with the heliwell and a dynamic rollover.

## Other reports on N613CK (1)

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

- [Incident 20080506833379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080506833379I), May 6, 2008: Croman SH3H (N613CK), Marfa, TX, Minor damage. (-23) The pilot allowed N613CK, a Croman SH-3H helicopter, to sink during a hover while loading water into the internal cells from a stock tank. The bottom…

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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