What happened
On June 4, 2000, a helicopter was engaged in firefighting operations. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying in a level, northeasterly direction away from a lake where it had been refilling an external water bucket. During this flight, the helicopter was seen to bank steeply and enter a nose-low attitude. The aircraft disappeared behind a line of trees, and witnesses heard the sound of an impact shortly thereafter.
Information regarding the pilot's condition prior to the flight indicated significant fatigue. On June 3, 2000, the day before the accident, the pilot had completed a 14-hour and 20-minute workday, which included three hours of flight time after 18:00. Additionally, the pilot had been awakened at 12:30 AM by a dispatch call regarding an 8:00 AM start time, resulting in poor sleep.
Medical investigations revealed that while the pilot's recent FAA medical certificates did not disclose any pre-existing diseases, records from the Veterans Administration indicated the pilot had been treated for chronic hepatitis C and prescribed interferon. Although the pilot had reportedly stopped taking medications prior to August 1998, an autopsy performed by the District Medical Examiner in Fort Myers, Florida, found evidence of cirrhosis.
The investigation
Mechanical examinations were conducted on several components of the aircraft, including the engine, the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic shut-off valve, the collective servo actuator, and the cyclic servo actuator. The examination of the Bambi water bucket also took place. No discrepancies were found in these components, with the only noted issues being damage resulting from the impact.