Incident Details
A helicopter engaged in firefighting operations experienced a rotor strike during a water drop. The aircraft had been making numerous water drops on a fire over a period of approximately two hours. The incident occurred on the second drop in an area of steep terrain, which was about 1,000 feet lower in elevation than the lake being used as a water source. Visibility was reduced to approximately half a mile due to smoke.
During the drop, all five main rotor blades made contact with a snag—a remnant of a tree consisting mainly of the trunk and branches without most of its foliage. The operator noted that the snag's color was similar to that of the smoke, making it difficult to see.
Flight Crew Actions
The helicopter had two pilots on board. The pilot flying was in the left seat, while the senior pilot was in the right seat. After the blades struck the snag, the senior pilot took control of the helicopter, climbed, and made an uneventful landing near the fill point.
Operational Context
The helicopter was being used exclusively for firefighting operations. The steep terrain and smoke presented challenging conditions. The snag was not visually distinct from the surrounding smoke, contributing to the rotor contact.