OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

• Overview DNR aviation program.Overview DNR aviation program.

• Review of the Easy Street Fire bucket Review of the Easy Street Fire bucket incident.incident.

• Mishap guideMishap guide

• Ops manualOps manual

Dave DoanFire Aviation

Manager, RP Div360-902-1736

Dan BoyleHelicopter Program

CoordinatorC 360-480-0490

Lee SmithMechanic sup360-753-5314

Pete PetersonLead Pilot

360-790-9635

Mechanics3 full time

2 intermittent

Pilots9 full time

Resource Protection Division

Joe ThorpHelitack Program

Manager

Crew Supervisor Crew Supervisor Crew Supervisor

NRW Squad Boss Squad Boss

Fuel Truck Driver3- Fire Fighters

NRW Squad Boss

Fuel Truck Driver3- Fire Fighters

NRW Squad Boss

Fuel Truck Driver3- Fire Fighters

SE Region Rex ReedSE Region Fire Manager

Aviation ProgramAviation Program

1 Beech Craft King Air 200 airplane 1 Beech Craft King Air 200 airplane 1 Air Attack and plat form in Colville.1 Air Attack and plat form in Colville.5 UH1H Huey 5 UH1H Huey 4 AH1H Cobra4 AH1H Cobra10 fuel support trucks10 fuel support trucksPBY Contract expires Mar 2008PBY Contract expires Mar 2008Future NE Region fixed wing?Future NE Region fixed wing?

DNR AVIATION POLICIESDNR AVIATION POLICIES

• Flight time- 8 hours total 7 on the Flight time- 8 hours total 7 on the hookhook

• DNR Pilots will shut down every other DNR Pilots will shut down every other fuel cycle while on fires.fuel cycle while on fires.

• DNR helicopters will not be assigned DNR helicopters will not be assigned as Medevac Helicopter.as Medevac Helicopter.

• All air operations Positions will meet All air operations Positions will meet PMS 310-1 qualifications.PMS 310-1 qualifications.

DNR AVIATION POLICIESDNR AVIATION POLICIES cont. cont.

• DNR will provide 1 manager for up DNR will provide 1 manager for up to three Helicopters on DNR fires.to three Helicopters on DNR fires.

• Toe in or one skid landings will be Toe in or one skid landings will be approved by the DNR aviation approved by the DNR aviation manager, except in an emergency manager, except in an emergency situation.situation.

DNR AVIATION POLICIESDNR AVIATION POLICIES cont. cont.

• Safecom- Any Safecom filed on a Safecom- Any Safecom filed on a DNR fire will be submitted to the DNR fire will be submitted to the Helicopter Program Coordinator Helicopter Program Coordinator within 4 days. within 4 days.

• Safecoms on DNR helicopters will be Safecoms on DNR helicopters will be processed through the controlling agency, processed through the controlling agency, but copies will be sent to the Helicopter but copies will be sent to the Helicopter Program Coordinator within 4 Days. Program Coordinator within 4 Days.

DNR Maintenance ProgramDNR Maintenance Program25 Hour Inspections25 Hour Inspections

3.5 hrs prior3.5 hrs prior 3.5 hrs beyond 3.5 hrs beyond

150 Hour Inspection 150 Hour Inspection Every 18 monthsEvery 18 months Cannot fly beyond 150 hrsCannot fly beyond 150 hrs Can perform anytime prior to 150 Can perform anytime prior to 150

hrshrsAnnual InspectionAnnual Inspection

At minimum once every 12 monthsAt minimum once every 12 months

Summary 2007Summary 2007

• 637 total flight hrs.637 total flight hrs.

• 90 fire responses.90 fire responses.

• 5650 total buckets dropped on fires.5650 total buckets dropped on fires.

Easy Street Fire July 2007 Easy Street Fire July 2007 bucket incident reviewbucket incident review

Play VideoPlay Video

• Date: July 8, 2007 Date: July 8, 2007

• Time: Approximately 1110 hrsTime: Approximately 1110 hrs

• Location: DNR SE Region, Wenatchee Wa.Location: DNR SE Region, Wenatchee Wa.

• Injuries: NoneInjuries: None

• Mission- Conduct bucket drops in support of Mission- Conduct bucket drops in support of

structure protection on a state mobilization fire. structure protection on a state mobilization fire.

One bucket was One bucket was destroyed when the destroyed when the helicopter bucket helicopter bucket

contacted a contacted a Snohomish County Snohomish County

brush truck.brush truck.

One brush truck One brush truck received damage to received damage to the windshield and the windshield and

cab roof.cab roof.

The Pilot was new to the DNR but was The Pilot was new to the DNR but was certified as PIC for bucket operations certified as PIC for bucket operations

by 2 experienced DNR Pilots.by 2 experienced DNR Pilots.

The report states the The report states the pilot saw a truck pilot saw a truck appear out of the appear out of the smoke on his right smoke on his right

side as he was setting side as he was setting up for the drop. up for the drop.

The report states the The report states the Pilot saw trucks and Pilot saw trucks and houses at the end of houses at the end of the ridge road. The the ridge road. The Pilot stated that he Pilot stated that he

maneuvered maneuvered between them with between them with

the bucket to the bucket to continue the drop.continue the drop.

The Pilot report states “he felt a lurch”. The Pilot report states “he felt a lurch”. He then turned the helicopter to see He then turned the helicopter to see

water had dropped behind the truckwater had dropped behind the truck..

The Pilot returned to the water source to The Pilot returned to the water source to discover his bucket was damaged. discover his bucket was damaged.

The Pilot contacted the Helibase and The Pilot contacted the Helibase and advised he was returning to the Helibase advised he was returning to the Helibase (Cashmere airport) with a bad bucket.(Cashmere airport) with a bad bucket.

The Helibase Manager contacted the DNR The Helibase Manager contacted the DNR Helicopter Coordinator from the new Helicopter Coordinator from the new helibase location (wen airport) to inform him helibase location (wen airport) to inform him that a DNR Helicopter struck a truck with a that a DNR Helicopter struck a truck with a bucket.bucket.

The DNR Coordinator contacted the Helicopter The DNR Coordinator contacted the Helicopter Manager to advise him that his Pilot had a Manager to advise him that his Pilot had a bucket strike with a vehicle. The Coordinator bucket strike with a vehicle. The Coordinator instructed the Manager to remove the Pilot instructed the Manager to remove the Pilot from flight status.from flight status.

The Helicopter Manager started the agency The Helicopter Manager started the agency reporting process.reporting process.

The Incident occurred during a transitional The Incident occurred during a transitional period from a type 3 to a type 2 incident period from a type 3 to a type 2 incident command structure.command structure.

The Pilot report stated he was approaching the The Pilot report stated he was approaching the drop zone low to keep the winds from blowing drop zone low to keep the winds from blowing the water away from the established line.the water away from the established line.

The coordinator contacted Olympia The coordinator contacted Olympia maintenance, as the second pilot on maintenance, as the second pilot on scene inspected the helicopter. scene inspected the helicopter.

Following inspection the second pilot then Following inspection the second pilot then took over PIC and resumed bucket took over PIC and resumed bucket support. support.

Findings Findings

Pilot had been properly trained and Pilot had been properly trained and certified as PIC.certified as PIC.

The Pilot was flying to low for conditions”.The Pilot was flying to low for conditions”.

Lack of radio communications between Lack of radio communications between aviation assets and ground personnel aviation assets and ground personnel played a role.played a role.

Findings Findings cont.cont.

Drop zone was scattered with fire Drop zone was scattered with fire apparatus both above and below.apparatus both above and below.

A question remains as to whether the Pilot A question remains as to whether the Pilot actually saw the truck or not because of actually saw the truck or not because of his blind spot and smoke.his blind spot and smoke.

Findings Findings cont.cont.

Visibility was a factor.Visibility was a factor.

The brush truck did have emergency lights The brush truck did have emergency lights on.on.

Neither aircraft nor equipment was a Neither aircraft nor equipment was a factor.factor.

Weather was not a factor. Weather was not a factor.

QuestionsQuestions