2007 Forest Service
Aviation Accident Review
A-200/300
Introduction
Information Sharing
 NTSB states that “Parties to the
investigation may relay to their respective
organizations information necessary for
purposes of prevention or remedial action.
However, no information concerning the
accident or incident may be released to
any person not a party representative to
the investigation before initial release by
the Safety Board without prior
consultation and approval.
Introduction
The NTSB has not finalized or determined
probable cause for all of the accidents at
this time.
This is preliminary information, subject to
change, and may contain errors. Any
errors will be corrected when the final
report has been completed
For accident prevention purposes only
Accident Rates
FY 1987 to FY 2007
14
11.91
11.67
10.510.62
9.2
9.15
10
8.42
7.36
8
8.33
8.17
6.97
6.11
4.69
5.39
6
5.5
4.46
4.31
3.58
3.12
4
1.74
1.58
2
100,000 Hour Accident Rate
* 2007 Estimated Accident Rate
07
20
05
20
03
20
01
20
99
19
97
19
95
19
93
19
91
19
89
19
87
0
19
accident rate
12
2007 Accident Summary
Seven accidents for FY 2007
Six accidents for CY 2007
► One
Fixed-Wing
 Mechanical
► Two
SEAT’s
 Both Mechanical
► Four
Helicopters
 All Human Error
FY Aircraft Accidents
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Human
2003
2004
Mechanical
2005
2006
2007
Human vs Mechanical
Human cause - when a human error was
the causal factor made by the flight crew.
► Mechanical cause - when there is a
mechanical failure that causes the accident;
however, in almost all mechanical accidents,
human errors are determined to be the root
cause. For example, a bolt breaks and
causes an accident, but the bolt was not the
correct bolt.
►
Not actual accident aircraft
NTSB Identification: LAX07TA208
Date: July 7, 2007
Region 6, Malheur NF
Aircraft: Dromader M-18A, N92043
Injuries: 1 Minor
Mission
Retardant drops on the Egley Complex.
Burns, OR 20 miles southeast
The aircraft experienced
a total loss of engine
power while
maneuvering for a
retardant drop
approximately 20 miles
northeast of Burns,
Oregon. The airplane
was substantially
damaged during the
pilot's forced landing in
a rough, vegetationcovered, open field.
According to the pilot, the engine stopped operating while he
was flying over the intended retardant drop zone at 1,500 feet
above ground level. The pilot attempted to restart the engine,
but he was not successful.
Thereafter, he dumped the retardant load, made a distress radio
call, and force landed. The airplane came to rest in an upright
attitude
The engine analysis and test cell runs
indicated no defects. No defects found in
the engine or airframe to cause an in-flight
shutdown. Cause undetermined at this
time.
► Non aviation parts were found on the
aircraft. It is recommended that SEAT
vendors adhere to part 135 maintenance
specifications.
►
Not actual accident aircraft
NTSB Identification: SEA07TA203
Date: July 14, 2007
Region 4, Payette NF
Aircraft: Cessna TU206G, N9374Z
Injuries: 2 Uninjured
Mission
Fire Reconnaissance
Touch down
Crash Site
Horse Mountain
Lookout
The aircraft was substantially damaged during a forced landing
attempt on Horse Mountain, near New Meadows, Idaho. A
company flight plan had been filed; the flight had originated
from McCall, Idaho, at 0813.
The pilot said that the airplane's engine began losing oil
pressure and RPM. He performed a forced landing, but
encountered rough/uneven terrain during the landing roll.
The aircraft's nose gear collapsed bending the bulkhead keels,
nose wheel bracket, and the right wing tip rib.
►
NTSB Probable Cause: The loss of engine
power due to the loss of engine oil
pressure following the oil pump’s drive
shaft failure for undetermined reason.
► Contributing
factors were the lack of
suitable terrain for a forced landing and
the rough/uneven terrain.
►
Should we consider flight altitude and
glide distance in our risk assessments and
flight planning?
Not actual accident aircraft
NTSB Identification: SEA07TA202
Date: July 16, 2007
Region 1, Lewis and Clark NF
Aircraft: Bell UH-1H, N667HP
Injuries: 1 Minor
Mission
Cargo delivery and backhaul in support of
hotshots and smokejumpers on the Ahorn
fire on the Bob Marshal Wilderness Area
Visibility in the area of the landing zone was fluctuating between
1/4 to 1 mile from smoke.
The pilot flew the helicopter from the Benchmark Helibase to
the landing zone, arriving over the landing zone without
incident and setting down his load of supplies.
View of helispot a couple days after the accident
Helispot
Crash Site
Helibase
The ground crew attached a load of firefighting equipment that
was to be returned to the Helibase.
As the pilot transitioned to forward flight to depart from the
landing zone, the visibility dropped, and the pilot reportedly lost
all visual reference. The helicopter settled into trees and
impacted the ground, coming to rest on its right side.
NTSB Probable Cause: Dense
smoke/haze which restricted the pilot's
visibility and the pilot's failure to maintain
aircraft control during the emergency
descent resulting in impact with terrain.
►
NTSB Identification: LAX07TA227
Date: July 23, 2007
Region 5, Klamath NF
Aircraft: Bell 205 A1++, N205BR
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
Mission
Delivering water blivets to
ground crews via long line
on the Norcross fire.
Blivet drop site
Several firefighters from a Type II hand crew witnessed the
arrival of the helicopter and the subsequent accident sequence.
They reported that as the blivets were set down, the helicopter
drifted to the right and the main rotor blades contacted a tree.
Strike Tree
Drop Site
The helicopter was outfitted with a 150-foot-long long line; the
tree that the helicopter struck was about 165 feet tall. The main
rotor struck the top 15 feet of the tree. There were no obvious
mechanical malfunctions noted with the engine.
The long line along with the blivets remained attached to the
helicopter as it made a turn to the left, stopped momentarily, and
then flew downhill. The firefighters reported that there were no
abnormal engine sounds emanating from the engine during the
event.
NTSB 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 assess the safety of the
intended drop zone, reduced visibility to the right
side of the helicopter, and the trees.
Do we have any prevention methods in place for
checks and balances?
►Who is responsible for approving drop site
locations?
►Is our current training for external load operations
sufficient?
►
NTSB Identification: SEA07TA214
Date: July 25, 2007
Region 4, Payette NF
Aircraft: Bell 214ST, N724HT
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor.
Mission
The helicopter was supporting the Loon fire with
water bucket drops on a 150 foot long-line.
The pilot was making an approach to a lake 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.
Concurrently, the bucket entered the water and the 150-foot
long-line pulled the helicopter while the pilot was maneuvering.
Subsequently, the helicopter collided with terrain in a marshy
area adjacent to the shoreline resulting in substantial damage.
The aircraft sustained substantial damage when it impacted
terrain following a loss of control while conducting long-line
operations in a remote area 21 miles northeast of McCall, Idaho.
NTSB 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.
Other findings were:
►Mechanic was on-board the aircraft
►Not wearing PFD’s
►Reporting the mishap as a hard landing
NTSB Identification:
Date: September 17, 2007
Region 5, San Bernardino NF
Aircraft: Air Tractor 802A, N91357
Injuries: None
The single Engine Airtanker (SEAT) collided with terrain during
a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Big Bear
City, California. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
According to the pilot, he had just reloaded the airplane with fire
retardant, taken off, and was on his way to the drop zone when
he observed the engine chip indicator light had illuminated.
He released the load, and made a forced landing in an
open field. During the landing rollout, the airplane
impacted a berm. When it came down again, it slid
sideways, and the landing gear separated.
Recovery personnel reported metal debris in the exhaust stack.
NTSB Probable Cause:
Loss of engine power while maneuvering due to
the failure of the number 1 bearing that was
caused by electrical discharge damage to the
bearing originating from the starter-generator.
Contributing to the accident was the operator's
failure to follow the engine maintenance manual
procedures for oil monitoring following
generator replacement and the unsuitable
terrain for the forced landing.
Incidents With Potential
 7/29/2007
Air Tractor 502A, Helena NF
Cargo door came open in flight, tore off with a bit
more of the aircraft and part of it got stuck
between the rudder and cable.
IWP’s continued
 6/3/2007
Air Tractor 802, San Bernardino NF
Crossing ridgeline on retardant drop at 5-7 feet
AGL
 8/19/2007
Sikorsky 70A, Bitterroot NF
Wire Strike with Bucket