Accident Summary
During firefighting operations, a helicopter's main rotor blades impacted a tree. The pilot subsequently performed an emergency landing, after which the helicopter rolled onto its side. The accident occurred while the pilot was maneuvering the helicopter slowly toward a fire, nearly in a hovering condition.
Pilot Actions
According to the pilot, his attention was concentrated on the bucket attached to the helicopter and on maintaining clearance between the bucket and surrounding trees. Immediately after initiating a water release from the bucket, the main rotor blades struck a tree. The pilot stated that the accident resulted from his focused attention on the bucket and his failure to observe the limited clearance between the tree and the main rotor blades.
Damage and Malfunctions
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the helicopter prior to the accident. An examination conducted by an FAA inspector also found no mechanical issues.
Previous Experience
The pilot had accumulated a total of 10 hours of experience operating a bambi bucket. On the day of the accident, he had dumped 60 buckets over a two-hour period.