# Incident 20120901020839I: Croman Corporation SH-3H, Covelo, CA, September 1, 2012

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2012, 03:15 local time
- Place: Covelo, CA
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: JYEA
- Location: 39.7872° N, 123.2597° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7872&lon=-123.2597&mi=10
- Aircraft: N611CK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N611CK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Croman SH-3H (registry code 2490000, https://openairdocs.org/model/croman-sh-3h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: GE T58 series (registry code 30008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-t58-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CROMAN CORPORATION SH-3H
- Reported engine: GE T58 SERIES
- People aboard: 0
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 20,200 total, 1,700 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12CA387](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA387) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120901020839I

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR12CA387](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA387), Sep 1, 2012: Croman SH-3H (N611CK), Covelo, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during an aerial firefighting flight.

## Other reports on N611CK (1)

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

- [Incident 20150804019699I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150804019699I), Aug 4, 2015: Croman Corporation SH-3H (N611CK), Springville, CA, Substantial damage. On 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…

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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