What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While doing bucket drops on fire # 414 ( after approx. 6 drops ) PIC noticed the aircraft was not getting enough right pedal. PIC contacted Tok forestry div z and notified them PIC was having an issue with the aircraft and was returning to Tok airport to have a look at it. PIC then contacted forestry dispatch and informed them the same. On approach to the airport PIC released the long line and bucket at the east end of the runway. PIC then continued down the runway for a run on landing though PIC could not get the nose of the aircraft to come around to the right and was headed for the treeline. As PIC increased power the aircraft went up into a left hand turn coming in contact with the tops of several trees before doing a 360 degree turn coming to rest facing west again.
Winds at the time were out of the south less than 5MPH.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE DOING BUCKET DROPS ON FIRE # 414 ( AFTER APPROX. 6 DROPS ) PIC NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH RIGHT PEDAL. PIC CONTACTED TOK FORESTRY DIV Z AND NOTIFIED THEM PIC WAS HAVING AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS RETURNING TO TOK AIRPORT TO HAVE A LOOK AT IT. PIC THEN CONTACTED FORESTRY DISPATCH AND INFORMED THEM THE SAME. ON APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT PIC RELEASED THE LONG LINE AND BUCKET AT THE EAST END OF THE RUNWAY. PIC THEN CONTINUED DOWN THE RUNWAY FOR A RUN ON LANDING THOUGH PIC COULD NOT GET THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO COME AROUND TO THE RIGHT AND WAS HEADED FOR THE TREELINE. AS PIC INCREASED POWER THE AIRCRAFT WENT UP INTO A LEFT HAND TURN COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE TOPS OF SEVERAL TREES BEFORE DOING A 360 DEGREE TURN COMING TO REST FACING WEST AGAIN.
WINDS AT THE TIME WERE OUT OF THE SOUTH LESS THAN 5MPH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.