Wyoming Helicopter Bucket Incident 2001

Two helicopters were involved in suppression operations on a fire near Jackson, Wyoming. While a Bell 205A-1 helicopter registered N205BR was at an out-of-ground effect hover over a pond using a long line and bambi bucket to pick up water during fire fighting operations, a Bell 212 helicopter registered N911VR, which was also equipped with a long line and bambi bucket, came to an out-of-ground effect hover above it. While the Bell 212 helicopter was operating in close proximity, its bambi bucket contacted the Bell 205A-1's main rotor system. The pilot of the Bell 205A-1 performed an autorotation with power to the shoreline, coming to rest with the tail section and part of the fuselage in the pond. The Bell 212 landed at the helibase without further incident.