20120901020839I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Croman SH-3H · Covelo, CA · September 1, 2012

Date: September 1, 2012 · 03:15 local
Place: Covelo, CA
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: JYEA
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N611CK
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR12CA387
Reported as: Croman SH-3H
Reported engine: GE T58 series
People aboard: 0
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 20,200 total1,700 in this make and model

N611CKRegistered now · Croman SH-3HS/N 148966 · Built 1961 Airframe modelCroman SH-3H Engine modelGE T58 seriesTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircraft was contracted for public use on a fire contract for the department of forestry when the incident happened. Aircraft was sent to hotshot area division v to drop water on the fire per helicopter control (U.S. Department of forestry).the aircraft approached the area from the north and while releasing the water struck a tree protruding out of the wooded area. All five blades hit the tree, damaging all the blades. The PIC (pilot in command) took control of the helicopter and flew to a safe location next to the water dip area to evaluate the damage. After evaluation and maintenance personnel inspection, the aircraft was determine to be safe to ferry to a safe location for further investigation of the damage. The aircraft flew to Covelo, CA safely and without incident for repairs.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRAFT WAS CONTRACTED FOR PUBLIC USE ON A FIRE CONTRACT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED.AIRCRAFT WAS SENT TO HOTSHOT AREA DIVISION V TO DROP WATER ON THE FIRE PER HELICOPTER CONTROL (U.S. DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY).THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE AREA FROM THE NORTH AND WHILE RELEASING THE WATER STRUCK A TREE PROTRUDING OUT OF THE WOODED AREA. ALL FIVE BLADES HIT THE TREE, DAMAGING ALL THE BLADES. THE PIC (PILOT IN COMMAND) TOOK CONTROL OF THE HELICOPTER AND FLEW TO A SAFE LOCATION NEXT TO THE WATER DIP AREA TO EVALUATE THE DAMAGE.AFTER EVALUATION AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL INSPECTION, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DETERMINE TO BE SAFE TO FERRY TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW TO COVELO, CA SAFELY AND WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR REPAIRS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR12CA387Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCovelo, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during an aerial firefighting flight.Sep 1, 2012 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N611CK · 1

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

Incident 20150804019699ILanding: Approach · Springville, CAOn August 4, 2015, N611CK a SH-3 helicopter struck a tree while conducting firefighting operations. The aircraft descended into a confined area to pick up water with its snorkel. None of the pilots on board had seen the tree in their final approach . The…Aug 4, 2015 · Substantial damage