Incident Overview
A helicopter conducting retardant dropping operations experienced a loss of control after its snorkel became entangled with a dip tank. The accident occurred as the pilot-in-command (PIC) was positioning the aircraft for a second tank. The snorkel screen fitting and the dip tank both featured 90-degree edges, which allowed them to catch on one another upon contact. The presence of these abrupt edges may have increased the likelihood of a snag occurring during flight.
Sequence of Events
During the mission, the PIC maneuvered the helicopter toward a dip tank to pick up retardant. As the snorkel made contact with the tank, it became caught. The PIC then increased power in an attempt to free the aircraft. Shortly thereafter, the helicopter descended and struck the ground on its right side.
Operational Procedures
Standard procedure for a caught snorkel involves slowly maneuvering the helicopter until the snag releases. The PIC had reported 1,620 hours of pilot-in-command time in helicopters on his application.