Bell UH-1H N128FC

Summary

On 1 July 2004 at about 00:00 local time, a Bell UH-1H registered N128FC, operated by USDA Forest Service, was involved in an accident near Childs, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 2004 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Childs, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.0169, -81.4511

Aircraft

Bell UH-1H

Registration

N128FC

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

USDA Forest Service

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Myers → Okeechobee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ATL04TA142

Nobody was injured.

The vehicle driver's inadequate visual lookout and his failure to maintain clearance. A factor was the lack of company standards and operation procedures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot after landing, he noticed that one of the skids were off of the pavement and was beginning to settle in the ground. The pilot lifted the helicopter to reposition the skid on the pavement. At the same time, the refuel trailer was being pulled forward towards the helicopter. After the helicopter was positioned on the pavement, the refueling trailer continued towards the helicopter until it struck the right synchronized elevator on the tail boom assembly. Examination of the helicopter revealed the right synchronized elevator was buckled. No flight control or mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot. Review of the USDA Forest Service operating procedures revealed that there were no operating procedures for "hot" refueling. Subsequent to this accident procedures have been adopted to prevent another reoccurrence of this accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.