# Incident 20110518010289I: Bell UH-1H, Ellensburg, WA, May 18, 2011

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 18, 2011, 10:30 local time
- Place: Ellensburg, WA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Location: 47.0001° N, 120.5495° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ellensburg, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0001&lon=-120.5495&mi=10
- Aircraft: N341WN, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N341WN) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell UH-1H (registry code 1181407, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-uh-1h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL UH-1H
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,000 total, 16 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110518010289I

## Narrative

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

DURING A FLIGHT UTILIZING A 75 FOOT LONG LINE AND A BAMBI BUCKET, THE COMMERCIALLY RATED SOLO PILOT DECENDED INTO THE TREES DAMAGING BOTH MAIN ROTOR BLADES.  THE DAMAGE TO THE ROTOR BLADES INCLUDED SKIN DAMAGE AND DEEP GOUGES INTO THE INTERIOR HONEY-COMB INTERIOR OF THE BLADES.  THE PILOT REMAINED AIRBORNE AND DID NOT LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  HE INSTEAD FLEW THE HELICOPTER BACK TO THE ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON AIRPORT AND THE WASHINGTON STATE DNR FACILITY.  THE STATED PURPOSE OF THIS FLIGHT WAS EXTERNAL LOAD AND FIRE BUCKET PROFICIENCY.

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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