Twin Peaks Fire Helicopter Accident Fatality 2000

On August 13, 2000, at 1645 Pacific daylight time, a Bell 412 twin-engine helicopter, N174EH, collided with mountainous terrain while conducting a long line water drop along a ridgeline during a wildfire suppression operation near Cold Springs, Nevada. According to another pilot working the same dip site and fire, the accident helicopter was to make a water drop along the ridgeline to support the ground fire crews. The trailing pilot was going to make his water drop behind the accident helicopter. He was about 1 mile behind the accident helicopter, and observed the accident helicopter flying along the ridgeline. The accident helicopter made a sudden 90-degree left descending turn and impacted the downsloping mountainous terrain. There were no radio communications with the accident pilot immediately prior to the turn. The name of the pilot is not readily available.