Author: Bill Gabbert

Montana Governor complains that some state helicopters are barred from working on USFS fires

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories HelicoptersTags , , 5 Comments on Montana Governor complains that some state helicopters are barred from working on USFS fires

Below is an excerpt from an article at Newsmax:

Montana’s governor on Friday [August 21] called on federal officials to lift what he called nonsensical restrictions that bar the state from using some of its helicopters to fight nearly a dozen major wildfires burning largely out of control across the state. Governor Steve Bullock, who declared a state of emergency earlier this week authorizing use of National Guard troops and aircraft along with state firefighters and helicopters, said in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that the federal rules were unnecessary obstacles to fighting the fires.

“I am doing my part to mobilize every available firefighting resource at my disposal, and make them available to all fire protection agencies,” Bullock said in the letter. “I encourage you to do your part by directing leadership within your respective agencies to rescind this unnecessary and artificial restriction on Montana aircraft as soon as possible.”

Bullock spokesman Mike Wessler said U.S. fire managers barred the use of UH-1H helicopters over federal land because they have objected to modifications to the state’s fleet that made them faster and able to carry more water.

The Democratic governor added, “I continue to be frustrated by this unwarranted and artificial limitation on interagency use of our aircraft.”

On August 22 we asked the U.S. Forest Service for their reaction to the story. On August 24  we were given this statement issued by their Northern Region:

The Northern Region of the Forest Service values the professionalism and fire-fighting support it receives from its partnership with the State of Montana. The Forest Service and the State of Montana Department [sic] have different standards and regulations to which each must adhere. Federal agencies, including the Forest Service, follow federal operational aviation safety standards that prescribe minimum specifications for the types of aircraft. These performance specifications provide an industry recognized margin of safety.

UPDATE September 23, 2015: Representatives from three Montana helicopter companies express their opinions on the issue.

Croman S-61A helicopter experiences hard landing

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories HelicoptersTags , , ,
S-61A hard landing Croman
File photo of a Croman helicopter taken in 2014. This is not the helicopter that experienced the hard landing August 19, 2015. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

At approximately 7:15 p.m. PT on August 19, a Croman S-61A helicopter working on the Eldorado Fire eight miles southeast of Unity, Oregon experienced a hard landing. The incident occurred on the west portion of the fire near King Creek in the vicinity of a medical unit serving firefighters on the line.

According to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), two persons were on board. When the helicopter came to rest, both exited the helicopter and signaled that they were unhurt by waving to the medical unit. While no significant injuries were apparent, both individuals were transported by ambulance to St. Alphonsus Ontario Medical Center for further evaluation.

Below is an excerpt from an article in the Baker City Herald:

…Gary Wiltrout, 67, of Boise, said he and his co-pilot Scott Talada, 65, of Baker City, had been flying for about six hours on Wednesday dumping water on the Eldorado fire when the engine failure occurred about 7:15 p.m.

They were taking water from a pond known as Murphy’s dip, near Highway 26 leaving Unity. Wiltrout said that up to that point, there was no indication there was anything wrong with the helicopter.“We had just picked up a bucket of water, then the engine rpm changed and we started losing altitude,” Wiltrout said. “I got rid of the water right away.”

Then, they lost an engine.

“I tried to make it out with one engine,” Wiltrout said.

The FAA reports there was “substantial damage” to the aircraft.

The helicopter has a Call When Needed contract with the U.S. Forest Service, but at the time of the accident it was working under the operational control of the ODF on one of their fires.

Dynamic Aviation’s Cessna Citation lead planes

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Contracting, Fixed wingTags , ,
Citation, Dynamic Aviation
One of two Cessna Citations Dynamic Aviation has under contract as lead planes. Photo by Dynamic Aviation.

When the folks at Dynamic Aviation saw a photo I took of one of their Cessna Citation lead planes last year, they sent me “a more recent picture” (above). They were too polite to say so, but I’m thinking the marketing department may have been uncomfortable with the photo that showed laundry hanging out of the forward luggage compartment.  🙂

Currently Dynamic Aviation, based in Bridgewater, Virginia, has the following aircraft under contract with the USFS and/or the BLM, according to Katie Dillon their Communications Manager:

 

13 firefighting aircraft grounded by a drone

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Drone/UAV/UASTags , ,

On August 16 firefighting aircraft were forced to halt air operations on the Testalinden Creek and Wilson’s Mountain Road wildfires in British Columbia due to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (or drone) flying over the fire.

Eight helicopters and five fixed-wing aircraft that were supporting firefighters were grounded, significantly impacting fire suppression operations.

The Oliver RCMP is currently working with the BC Wildfire Service in relation to this incident.

CAL FIRE’s OV-10s grounded after prop failure

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Fixed wingTags , , 7 Comments on CAL FIRE’s OV-10s grounded after prop failure
OV-10 at Redding, CA
OV-10D at Redding, CA August 7, 2014. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

The Press Democrat is reporting that CAL FIRE grounded their 15 OV-10A Broncos Monday morning after a propeller on one of the aircraft failed while the plane was still on the ground.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Scott McLean said mechanics had been dispatched to check on the fleet and by the afternoon five had been cleared for flying.

The OV-10s are usually used as air attack ships, serving as a platform for the Air Tactical Group Supervisor who coordinates the aviation assets working on a fire.

Some of CAL FIRE’s OV-10s are OV-10Ds that have have upgraded, more powerful engines with about 1,000 more horsepower than the OV-10A, a ramp worker at the Redding Air Attack Base told me last summer. The OV-10D has four props instead of three.

About 360 Broncos were produced between 1965 and 1986 and were retired from the U.S. military in 1995.

One of the OV-10s can be seen in the blurry webcam image at Ramona Air Attack Base.

OV-10 Redding Aug 7, 2014
OV-10A at Redding Aug 7, 2014. Photo by Bill Gabbert.

Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Barbara and Kirk.

Los Angeles County helicopter makes “hard landing”

Author Bill GabbertPosted on Categories Helicopters3 Comments on Los Angeles County helicopter makes “hard landing”

Originally published at 8:09 p.m. PT, August 16, 2015; updated at 10:54 p.m. PT, August 16, 2015)

LA helicopter in cemetery

A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter made a “hard landing” Sunday while assisting with the Lincoln Fire near the Rio Hondo River in Montebello, California. The Department PIO announced that “All crew members on board are ok”.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported, “Three people on board suffered possible neck and back injuries, but none that appeared to be major”. The newspaper also reported that news footage showed an object resembling a tail rotor on the ground near the helicopter.

In the image above from NBC Los Angeles the helicopter appears to be missing the tail rotor as it sits upright in a cemetery.

ABC7 said that the helicopter lost engine power, according to Federal Aviation Administration officials.

Below is a file photo taken by LA Co FD of one of their helicopters.

LA County FD Firehawk
File photo of an LA County Firehawk. Photo by LA County FD.

On August 14 another helicopter made a hard landing while working on the Cabin Fire in southern California.