# NTSB DEN01TA134: Bell 205A-1, N205BR, Jackson, WY, July 31, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: July 31, 2001, 13:47 local (19:47 UTC) - Place: Jackson, WY - Coordinates: 43.470943, -110.760955 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4709&lon=-110.7610&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSFO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55583 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01TA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55583/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01TA134 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) the Bell 212 helicopter pilot's inadequate visual lookout which resulted in a midair collision. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, hover - out of ground effect - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, hover - out of ground effect - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) While a Bell 205A-1 helicopter was at an out-of-ground effect hover over a pond using a long line and bambi bucket to pick up water during fire fighting operations, a Bell 212 helicopter, which was also equipped with a long line and bambi bucket, came to an out-of-ground effect hover above it. While the Bell 212 helicopter was operating in close proximity, its bambi bucket contacted the Bell 205A-1's main rotor system. The pilot of the Bell 205A-1 performed an autorotation with power to the shoreline, coming to rest with the tail section and part of the fuselage in the pond. The Bell 212 landed at the helibase without further incident. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On July 31, 2001, at 1347 mountain daylight time, a Bell 205A-1 helicopter, N205BR, sustained substantial damage to both main rotor blades when the water bucket of a Bell 212 helicopter, N911VR, contacted its main rotor system near Jackson, Wyoming. The Bell 205A-1 helicopter was registered to Idaho Helicopters, Inc., of Boise, Idaho, and the Bell 212 helicopter was registered to Rogers Helicopters, Inc., of Fresno, California. Both helicopters were being operated by the U.S. Forest Service as public use fire fighting flights. The airline transport pilot of the Bell 205A-1 and the airline transport pilot of the Bell 212 were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flights. A company flight plan was filed for the Bell 205A-1 and a flight plan was not filed for the Bell 212. Both flights originated from Wilson, Wyoming. Witnesses reported observing the Bell 205A-1 helicopter at an out-of-ground effect hover over a pond near the Snake River using a long line and bambi bucket to pick up water during fire fighting operations. While the Bell 205A-1 helicopter was filling its bucket, the Bell 212 helicopter came to a hover above it. As the Bell 205A-1 helicopter prepared to depart the pond, the bambi bucket of the Bell 212 helicopter contacted its main rotor system. The pilot of the Bell 205A-1 performed an autorotation, and the helicopter came to rest with the tail section and part of the fuselage in the pond. The Bell 212 departed the area. The pilot of the Bell 205A-1 helicopter reported that while picking up water with a bucket on a 100-foot long line, "[the main rotor] was hit by something." Subsequently, he performed an autorotation with power to the shoreline. The pilot of the Bell 212 helicopter reported that he was flying north along the Snake River, with a 100-foot long line and bambi bucket, and was slowing and turning west to enter one of several dipping ponds. He saw the Bell 205A-1 helicopter "approaching downhill from the west and assumed he would take one of the western ponds while [he] turned into the wind (SW) for [his] dip into the NE most pond." The pilot stated that "as I was slowing and lowering the bucket, I saw [the Bell 205A-1] appear under me and I immediately pulled up and turned right." He landed the helicopter at the Green Knoll helibase without further incident. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N205BR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N205BR-2007-09-20), registration cancelled 2007-09-20, S/N 30033, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 205A-1 - Registry model: [Bell 205A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-205a-1) (registry code 1181414) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming T-53 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-t-53-series) (registry code 41552, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 30033 - Airframe hours: 10496.4 - Engines: Lycoming T53-17B 1400 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: U.S Forest Service - Registered owner: Idaho Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 4, 2001, 96.9 hours before - Departed: Wilson, WY - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N911VR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N911VR), registered now, S/N 30998, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bell 212 - Registry model: [Bell 212](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-212) (registry code 1181420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6-series) (registry code 52033, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 30998 - Airframe hours: 16886.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3B 878 horsepower turbo shaft; Pratt & Whitney PT6T-3B 878 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: No damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Operator: U.S. Forest Service - Registered owner: Rogers Helicopters, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 29, 2001, 1.7 hours before - Departed: Wilson, WY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N205BR; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 26, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total, 425 in this make and model, 145 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N911VR; age 41; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 28, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 5,025 total, 263 in this make and model, 2,858 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010731021401A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010731021401A), Jul 31, 2001: Bell 205A1, Jackson, WY, No damage. (-23) While hovering to pickup a load of water, the main rotor blades was struck by another helicopters water bucket that had arrived at the same pond for… - [Accident 20010731021402A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010731021402A), Jul 31, 2001: Bell 212, No damage. (-23)Upon arrival at the same pond in which another helicopter was already picking up water, the pilot did not see the hovering helicopter below due to smoke… ## Other investigations on N205BR (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 LAX07TA227](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07TA227), Jul 23, 2007: Bell 205 A1++ (N205BR), Happy Camp, CA, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the trees during a long-line operation. Contributing factors were the Forest Service's inadequate communication between crews, failure to properly… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.