# Accident 20210707016999A: Bell 212, July 7, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 7, 2021, 16:50 local time
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Hover/Holding
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: CUCL
- Location: 41.5370° N, 122.3780° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5370&lon=-122.3780&mi=10
- Aircraft: N911KW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N911KW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 212 (registry code 1181420, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6 series (registry code 52033, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 212
- Reported engine: P&W PT6 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 4,570 total, 240 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR21LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA268) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210707016999A

## Narrative

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

A PHONE INTERVIEW WITH PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ JULY 17, 2021 BY INSPECTOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ASSISTANT TO THE IIC REVEALED THAT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FELT A LATERAL VIBRATION IN THE AIRCRAFT WHILE IN CLOSE PROXIMIMITY TO THE LAKE WHILE LOADING WATER FOR FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAID THAT HE LOST ORIENTATION TO THE WATER WHILE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION CAUSING HIM TO LOSE ORIENTATION TO THE WATER. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MENTIONED THAT HE NOTICED THAT HIS SKIDS WERE IN THE WATER BUT IT WAS TO LATE TO RECOVER.  BY THAT TIME THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE LAKE.  THE PILOT MENTIONED THAT HE TRIED TO PUT IN A LITTLE FORWARD CYCLIC IN AN ATTEMPT TO POSSIBLY FLY AWAY BUT REALIZED HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO.  THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE WATER AND ROLLED TO THE RIGHT.

## 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 WPR21LA268](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA268), Jul 7, 2021: Bell 212HP (N911KW), Weed, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain altitude during an approach to a lake. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to release the full water bucket as the helicopter was settling, which…

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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