- Date
- July 25, 2007, 19:47 local (Jul 26, 2007, 01:47 UTC)
- Place
- McCall, ID
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N724HTBell 214ST
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- United Stated Department of Agriculture, Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20070725015879A
- Case key
- 66303
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate planned approach that led to settling with power. Contributing to the accident was the external load becoming snagged in the water, and the high density altitude.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he encountered the onset of settling with power while approaching a lake to fill an external bucket attached to a 150-foot long-line. He lowered the collective, and initiated a 180-degree turn. During the turn, the bucket entered the water, and the long-line pulled the helicopter from the right side while the pilot was maneuvering. Subsequently, the helicopter collided with terrain adjacent to the shoreline of the lake resulting in substantial damage. The operator reported the estimated density altitude at the time of the accident was 10,221 feet, and the winds were light and variable. Examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe.
Factual narrative
On July 25, 2007, at 1947 mountain daylight time, a Bell 214ST helicopter, N724HT, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a loss of control while conducting long-line operations in a remote area 22 miles northeast of McCall, Idaho. The airline transport pilot (ATP) sustained serious injuries and the passenger/crew chief, sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to US Leaseco, Inc of Baltimore, Maryland, and under the operational control of the United States Forest Service (USFS). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was filed for the local public use flight. The purpose of the flight was to conduct external load operations in support of the Loon fire.
In a written statement provided by USFS personnel, the pilot was making an approach to a lake in order to fill a 900-gallon Bambi bucket attached to a 150-foot long-line. As the approach continued, and just prior to the bucket entering the water, the pilot reported that "he was encountering the onset of settling with power." The pilot lowered the collective and initiated a 180-degree turn. During the turn, the bucket entered the water and the 150-foot long-line "pulled the helicopter" on "the right side of the aircraft" while the pilot was maneuvering about 20-40 feet above the water. Subsequently, the helicopter collided with terrain in a marshy area adjacent to the shoreline resulting in substantial damage.
The operator reported the estimated density altitude at the time of the accident was 10,221 feet.
Examination of the helicopter revealed no mechanical anomalies with the engine or airframe.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N724HT
- Reported as
- Bell 214ST
- Category
- Helicopter
- Serial number
- 21823
- Airframe hours
- 2,518
- Engine
- General Electric CT7-2A, 1,625 horsepower, turbo shaft
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Public use
- Operator
- US Forest Service
- Registered owner
- US LEASECO Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · July 1, 2007 · 45 hours before
- Departed
- McCall, ID
- Destination
- McCall, ID
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,996 total · 6,507 as pilot in command · 131 in the last 90 days · 79 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots, gusting 4
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- LOON, 4 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.