Bell UH-1H accident near Fort Myers, FL
On June 4, 2000, a Bell UH-1H (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Fort Myers, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 4, 2000
- Place
- Fort Myers, FL
- Aircraft
- Bell UH-1H · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 26.510°N, 81.700°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X21287
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 4, 2000, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Bell UH-1H, N127FC, registered to and operated by the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 public-use local flight, crashed 10 miles south of Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated in Fort Myers, the same day, about 0820. The helicopter was operating as a fire-fighting flight, and had been in the area of a fire for about 1 1/2 hours. The accident occurred after the pilot had refilled the water in the external bucket, and was returning to the fire after filling up at the lake/pond. Witnesses observed the helicopter in level flight heading in a northeasterly direction away from the lake/pond. A witness said the helicopter banked steeply and went into a nose-low attitude until it disappeared behind trees. Shortly after disappearing behind the trees, the witnesses heard the sound of impact. In addition, the witness said, "I saw Helicopter 27 head back to the fire with a full bucket of water, I saw him go down over the pond...and come up with water in it. I saw water trailing the helicopter and the bucket." A Forestry Service, aircraft mechanic, who saw the pilot before the flight stated, "...I walked into the hangar at 6:45 [0645] [the pilot] was here, complained that someone from Forestry called him at 12:30 [0030] and woke him up to tell him they wanted him in at 8:00 AM. He mumbled some
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter for undetermined reasons. Factors in this accident were self-induced pressure and fatigue due to lack of sleep and rest.
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Browse: Florida · Bell aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
