Day Fire Helicopter Crash 2006

On October 1, 2006, on the Day Fire on the Los Padres National Forest, an exclusive use Sikorsky S­64 helicopter had just emptied the portable retardant tank of retardant (approximately 200 gallons) and was going to add some water from another portable tank located approximately 25 yards away. Attempting to put the snorkel into the portable water tank, the snorkel  contacted the tank's exterior side and was momentarily hung up on the tank's flange. The aircraft began to spin, hit the ground and rolled over. Both pilots egressed the aircraft, received minor abrasions, and were evaluated on­ scene by paramedics. They were transported to a local hospital and were released that same day. 

Helicopters, Aviation, Helicopter Incident or Accident