1 fatal · Aerospatiale SA315B · 2002-07-31 · Estes Park, CO, USA
Event
NTSB number
DEN02GA085
Event ID
20020808X01330
Type
Accident
Date
2002-07-31
Location
Estes Park, CO, USA
Coordinates
40.29972, -105.44889
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
1
Serious
0
Minor
0
Uninjured
0
Total aboard
1
Aircraft
Make
Aerospatiale
Model
SA315B
Registration
N3978Y
FAR Part
PUBU
Engines
1
Damage
DEST
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
the pilot's abrupt collective input during water application to a forest fire. Contributing factors were encountering a vortex ring state, the inadvertent settling with power, the low altitude, and the mountainous terrain.