Oregon Department of Forestry Helicopter Accident Fatalities 2003

During a low level reconnaissance flight for the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to locate water holes/dip sites for future fire suppression actions, the Bell 206B-3 helicopter registered N86W collided with an unmarked power line that was strung across the Siuslaw River in southwestern Oregon near the town of Swisshome. The helicopter subsequently crashed in the river about 300 feet west of the remaining power lines. The surrounding terrain was mountainous and covered with dense trees and underbrush. Patchy fog and clouds were in the area at the time. The pilot of the helicopter that recovered the wreckage from the river stated that the remaining lines were hard to see and blended in with the vegetation and terrain. Existing maps did not indicate the presence of these lines and the Department of Forestry did not maintain a "hazard map" for the area. The two occupants of the helicopter were killed in the accident. Killed in the accident were pilot Richard "Dick" Warren Black, an employee of Weyerhaeuser-Eugene Helicopter Operations and ODF Forest Unit Supervisor David Craig Mackey. 

This area had previously seen a wire-strike helicopter incident involving US Forest Service Bell 47 (exact model and registration number not available) on August 3, 1974. The helicopter had been monitoring the status of previous slash burns in the area and struck the unmarked wires spanning the Siuslaw River. The pilot was able to regain control and perform an emergency landing; the helicopter was damaged but both occupants survived with little to no injuries. According to the NTSB, the lines were first installed in 1956.