Skip to main content

Wenatchee Helicopter Longline Accident (Washington) – August 11, 2004

This Day in History is a brief summary of a powerful learning opportunity and is not intended to second guess or be judgmental of decisions and actions. Put yourself in the following situation as if you do not know the outcome. What are the conditions? What are you thinking? What are YOU doing?

Incident Summary:

Firefighters arrived to suppress two lightning fires near each other on the Wenatchee National Forest on August 10. The area was heavily wooded and mountainous. That evening the firefighters request supplies be flown into a drop zone they have established in a creek bed. The firefighters estimate the trees in the drainage to be an average of 80 feet tall with some 120-foot-tall trees near the drop zone. A 150-foot longline is requested. The next morning, a Bell 205 A1 helicopter was dispatched with a tandem sling load to deliver to the firefighters, one net for each fire.

A pink flagging "X" was placed near the stream at the southern end of a cut bank overlooking a sand bar. There was a tall snag located on the cut bank. The helicopter’s approach was from the southwest, perpendicular to the drainage. The snag was on the helicopter’s right side. One of the firefighters established communications with the pilot and said that if he didn’t like the established drop zone, it is okay to choose his own spot. The pilot acknowledged the firefighter and indicated that he would give their drop zone a try. The pilot was not told about the snag. The pilot places both nets on the drop zone. One of the firefighters unhooks their net and re-hooks the load for the other crew. The helicopter began to lift to depart. Near the top of the snag, the pilot (sitting left seat) slowly turned the nose to the left. The tail of the helicopter struck the snag causing the helicopter to spin. It impacted the ground just upstream of the drop zone. The pilot was killed.


Size up The snag was cut down and measured at 169’ 5” tall. Adding the height of the cut bank to the height of the snag, the tree was 172’ 11” above the drop zone surface. The longline was measured at 160 feet long. The strike marks were found 15’ 4” down from the top of the snag.

  • When you and your crew are sizing up a potential cargo drop zone, what are some methods to estimate tree and obstacle height?

L A pilot’s ability to see their surroundings is fairly limited, especially when looking down at an external load. The ability of the ground personnel to see the helicopter in relation to the surrounding hazards can often be better. When a helicopter pilot is working with an external load, consider yourself and your crew to be a Lookout for that pilot just as you would other members of your crew. Watch the main rotor and tail rotor, not just the load. When any hazard encroaches on the safety circle (zone), communicate it immediately. Never assume that the pilot sees it or that someone else will say something. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

  • In addition to trees and snags, what other hazards will you be looking out for as a lookout for a helicopter?

C You and your crew must be able to communicate with the pilot by radio. Before the helicopter arrives at your site, brief the pilot on hazards including trees and their estimated height. It is generally considered better to over-estimate the height than to under-estimate it.

E Helicopters delivering external loads via longline will be flying in the Height-Velocity Curve (aka, dead man’s curve, see NWCG Standards for Helicopter Operations [NSHO], PMS 510 which diminishes the pilot’s ability to land safely or recover from a loss of control or power.

  • Consider the pilot’s and your crew’s escape routes if the helicopter were to lose control or power. Where will the helicopter go? Where will you go?

S Consider the safety zone and a safety circle to be very similar places. It needs to be big enough to operate without hazards. For a helicopter, this is considered to be a minimum of 1½ times the rotor diameter. The rotor diameter of this helicopter was 48 feet. The snag was 36 feet from the drop zone marker.

  • Refer to the IRPG for safety circle sizes. How big should the safety circle (zone) be for a Type 3 helicopter? Type 2? Type 1?

6MFS Suggestion Form


Have an idea or feedback?

Share it with the NWCG 6MFS Subcommittee
 


Follow NWCG on X and Facebook
 


 

Last Modified / Reviewed:

NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003 Flame-Resistant Shirt Survey

Date: June 12, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The U.S. Forest Service National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) is seeking input on the Forest Service-designed flame-resistant (FR) shirt, currently available through the National Interagency Support Cache system and FedMall.

NTDP is conducting a product review to improve future FR shirt designs. As part of this effort, a short survey is now open for federal employees who have worn any of three recent FR shirt models. Feedback will guide design improvements to better meet the needs of wildland firefighters.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act, responses are limited to federal employees. The survey is open through September 12, 2025. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-003

NEW! S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended) Now Available

Date: June 10, 2025
If you have questions, please visit our FAQ page. 
If your question is not answered there, you can 
submit your question using our Contact Us form. 
 

The S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended), equips new wildland firefighters with essential skills through a mix of online learning and hands-on training. The course features a required online component and an instructor-led exercise, reinforcing online concepts with practical performance-based training.

The course builds competencies in wildland fire operations, safety, and equipment use, applicable across various operational environments. Both the online component and instructor-led field exercise must be completed to receive a certificate of completion. Students are required to finish the prerequisite S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior, before enrolling in S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended).

References:

S-130, Firefighter Training (Blended)

S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

Date: June 3, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Emergency Medical Committee

The Emergency Medical Committee has issued interim guidance for Rapid Extraction Module Support (REMS) teams. Until further notice, Type I and II REMS teams must designate a team leader qualified at Firefighter Type 1 Squad Boss (FFT1) or higher. This temporary change replaces the Single Resource Boss (SRB) requirement, which is currently not feasible due to administrative barriers.

This memorandum does not include any other changes to the NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552. This interim change takes effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice.

References:

EMC Memo 25-001: Interim Rapid Extraction Module (REMS) Training and Qualification Requirements

NWCG Standards for Rapid Extraction Module Support, PMS 552

Equipment Bulletin 25-002: Chaps, Chain Saw, M-2020, Nonconformities Affecting Use, Appearance, and Serviceability

Date: June 2, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee issued Equipment Bulletin: 25-002 to address a manufacturing nonconformity affecting Forest Service specification, 6170-4K Chain Saw Chaps. The issue applies to chaps manufactured in 2024 and 2025 and distributed through FedMall. These chaps may have incorrectly bound edges that expose inner protective layers.

Independent purchasers should inspect all chain saw chaps received from FedMall beginning in 2024, prior to use. Review the full Equipment Bulletin: 25-002 for inspection criteria and recommended actions.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Equipment Bulletin: 25-002