N42489

On July 24, 1998, about 1715 central daylight time, a Bell 206L-3 helicopter, N42489, registered to Houston Helicopters, Inc., of Houston, Texas, and operated by the U.S. Forest Service, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while hovering near Reklaw, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the helicopter, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 Public Use fire fighting flight. The flight originated from the Hudson Fire Base near Lufkin, Texas.

The 8,944 hour helicopter pilot reported in a written statement that the "dip" site for filling the water bucket (bambi) was a "typical Texas farm pond, approximately 120 feet from North to South and 50 to 70 feet wide." The nearest obstacles were 30 to 40 foot trees on the east and west sides of the pond.

The pilot further reported that after completing a fourth bucket drop on the fire, he returned to the dip site and made a normal approach to a hover over the water. While at a "stabilized hover, with no apparent drift," he reduced the collective (power) to put the bucket in the water. The helicopter descended to 2 feet above the water, and he "watched the bucket sink into the pond using the chin mounted mirror." When the bucket filled, he increased the collective to approximately 78% torque and lifted the aircraft to take up the slack in the cable. This brought the bucket rim to the surface and "all looked to be normal." He then increased power to 93-94% torque to lift the bucket. "At this point the aircraft started a minor roll, it felt as though the bucket might be slightly off center below the aircraft." He reduced collective to approximately 70% torque to take the load off the aircraft and evaluate the situation. "As the aircraft descended to a 2 [foot] skid height it entered a very high rate left roll and impacted the water."

While still at the accident site, the pilot reported to the Forest Service safety officer that he was "a little bit off center, [and] when I lifted [the helicopter] it did a dynamic rollover."

A witness reported to the Forest Service safety officer that he was watching the helicopter come in for its third dip. The witness further reported that "the bucket was way back dragging across the water." Once the bucket sank, the pilot started to "pull power," and then the helicopter "tipped to the passenger side and the rotor immediately hit the water."

Examination of the helicopter wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed witness marks, which were matched to the water bucket's cable, on the outside of the left skid just aft of the aft cross tube. The fuselage sustained damage, the tail boom's skin was wrinkled, and the main rotor blades were separated from the main rotor hub.