Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On July 19, 2005, approximately 1515 mountain daylight time, a Hughes 369FF single-engine helicopter, N530TJ, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain following a loss of control while hovering approximately 20 miles west of Loveland, Colorado. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was operated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region (Region 2) for public use firefighting missions, and registered to Utility Aviation Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from a staging area west of Loveland at 1504.

According to the pilot's statement, the helicopter was being used to support firefighting operations in the area and was attempting to deliver supplies via external load. The helicopter was equipped with a 100-foot long line and a 20-foot choker, the external load weighed 615 pounds, and the helicopter weighed a total of 3,000 pounds.

Prior to the approach, the pilot over flew the intended landing location and was informed that the winds were from the west approximately 7 knots. The pilot performed a hover check approximately 1/2 mile east of the intended landing zone (LZ) over a valley. The pilot moved the helicopter west to the LZ at a speed just above effective translational lift and came to a hover with the load approximately 30-40 feet over the landing spot. The pilot checked the engine and operating instruments and all systems indicated normal. "No unusual noises or vibrations."

The pilot began looking down and outside the helicopter when he felt a yaw to the right. The pilot noticed that he was "depressing the left [pedal] more as I pushed on the left to stop a right turn." The helicopter then made an "uncommanded turn to the right and began spinning right." The helicopter made two to three rotations to the right; the pilot jettisoned the cargo portion of the long line and lowered the collective. "As the aircraft stabilized in a glide, [pilot] attempted to regain control of the descent by adding power/pitch to the main rotor. When [pilot] did this, the aircraft immediately started spinning again, two quick rotations." The pilot lowered the collective and began a glide into the trees. Subsequently, the helicopter impacted trees and terrain and came to rest on its left side. The accident site was located at an elevation of 7,700 feet on a 10-20 degree slope.

According to a witness, who was assisting near the LZ, the surface winds were light at the time; however, it had been a "pretty windy day." As the helicopter approached the LZ, "everything was normal when he did a 180-degree turn. The load was fairly stable below him and the ship did a quick 180. Paused briefly, did another (180), completed to the 360, and then kept slowly spinning...The flight pattern started getting a little more erratic, as far as the load of his,