Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sheridan, Wyoming 82801
Wednesday, September 4, 1996 14:00 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter pilot was attempting to drop water on a forest fire from a sling-loaded bucket. He was flying about 8,200 feet above mean sea level and in close proximity to mountainous terrain. Density altitude was about 11,600 feet, and high winds, gusts, turbulence, and smoke prevailed. As the pilot approached the target area to drop the water, he could not see the target and was advised that he had overflown it. He maneuvered the helicopter in an attempt to be in a position to drop the water after reacquiring the target. There was evidence that the pilot inadvertently encountered a loss of tail rotor effectiveness in unfavorable wind conditions. The helicopter began to spin to the right. The pilot attempted to recover by entering an autorotation; however, before he regained control, the helicopter impacted trees and was substantially damaged. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of preimpact mechanical deficiencies. The pilot had much experience in helicopters; however, he had no recent mountain flying experience nor any firefighting experience.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, concerning maneuvers to position the helicopter for aerial application; and inadvertent loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which resulted in loss of directional control and subsequent collision with the terrain. Factors relating to the accident include unfavorable weather conditions (high wind, gusts, turbulence, smoke, and high density altitude); the pilot's lack of recent experience in type of operation, and the lack of suitable terrain for a safe autorotation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/4/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City SHERIDAN
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82801
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 225
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 11600
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1390
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 4 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1425
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:22AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N253EV
NTSB Number SEA96TA207
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bell
Aircraft Model 206L-3
Aircraft Series Identifier 206L-3
Aircraft Serial Number 51405
Certified Max Gross Weight 4250
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Aug 16 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 65
Airframe Hours 2060
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EVERGREEN EQUITY, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3850 THREE MILE LANE
Aircraft Owner City MCMINNVILLE
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97128
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name U.S. FOREST SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 3833 S. DEVELOPMENT AVENUE
Operator City BOISE
Operator State ID
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 83705
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SHR
Departure City
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1245
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --