Kmax Logging Accident
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Idaho fatal accident
R.I.P.
Helicopter pilot killed in crash identified | KLEW CBS 3
Helicopter pilot killed in crash identified | KLEW CBS 3
DONNELLY - The Valley County Sheriff's Office has identified the helicopter pilot who was killed following a crash near Donnelly.
Authorities say 64-year-old Roy Daniel Kettle of Harvard, Idaho crashed a logging helicopter at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday near West Mountain Road and No Business Road west of Donnelly.
Kettle was the only person on board.
At the time of the crash, the pilot was airlifting a log to a drop zone, according to officials. The FAA will be investigating the crash. The cause is still not yet known.
The aircraft was registered to Woody Contracting Inc. based out of Summerville, Ore.
Authorities say 64-year-old Roy Daniel Kettle of Harvard, Idaho crashed a logging helicopter at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday near West Mountain Road and No Business Road west of Donnelly.
Kettle was the only person on board.
At the time of the crash, the pilot was airlifting a log to a drop zone, according to officials. The FAA will be investigating the crash. The cause is still not yet known.
The aircraft was registered to Woody Contracting Inc. based out of Summerville, Ore.
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Idaho K-MAX long line accident
Preliminary investigation
WPR10LA295
WPR10LA295
NTSB Identification: WPR10LA295
14 CFR Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Donnelly, ID
Aircraft: KAMAN AEROSPACE CORP K-1200, registration: N134WC
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
On June 16, 2010, about 1340 mountain daylight time, a Kaman K-1200 helicopter, N134WC, impacted the terrain about five miles west of Donnelly, Idaho. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, was killed in the accident sequence, and the helicopter, which was owned and operated by Woody Contracting Inc., sustained substantial damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 long-line logging flight had been airborne for an as of yet undetermined period of time. The flight was taking place in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.
According to witnesses, the helicopter, which was using a 200 foot long-line, had just lifted a load of logs clear of the ground, when a loud noise was heard emanating from the helicopter. Immediately thereafter, witnesses saw portions of the helicopter's counter-rotating rotor system separating from the helicopter. The helicopter then immediately fell to the rough terrain below. There was no fire.
14 CFR Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 16, 2010 in Donnelly, ID
Aircraft: KAMAN AEROSPACE CORP K-1200, registration: N134WC
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On June 16, 2010, about 1340 mountain daylight time, a Kaman K-1200 helicopter, N134WC, impacted the terrain about five miles west of Donnelly, Idaho. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, was killed in the accident sequence, and the helicopter, which was owned and operated by Woody Contracting Inc., sustained substantial damage. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 long-line logging flight had been airborne for an as of yet undetermined period of time. The flight was taking place in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.
According to witnesses, the helicopter, which was using a 200 foot long-line, had just lifted a load of logs clear of the ground, when a loud noise was heard emanating from the helicopter. Immediately thereafter, witnesses saw portions of the helicopter's counter-rotating rotor system separating from the helicopter. The helicopter then immediately fell to the rough terrain below. There was no fire.
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The pilot in command had over 10,000 hrs in type. Ground crew said they heard a loud bang as the load was being lifted (prior to translational lift) and parts were seen leaving the aircraft. One tower was torn from the helicopter and the aircraft was inverted when it impacted. This Kmax 1200 was #006 in production and was near 30,000 hrs.
Knowing he couldn't do anything to control it, makes it even worse. 
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K-1200 crash June 2010 Idaho
http://www.nwcn.com/news/idaho/Pilot-killed-in-Idaho-helicopter-crash-near-Donnelly-identified-96577939.html
The pilot was my father, he had been flying since Vietnam and was a love he maintained throughout his life. The K-MAX involved was, to my understanding, the highest flight hour machine in the air at the time. My dad had flow K-MAXs for approx 16 years and a steady with this machine for some 7+ years with the a consistent maintenance team described in his own words "as some of the best he has ever worked with".
In the spirit of this forum, the belief that sharing helps heal the living, and the hope that information in relevant hands is useful, I offer my perspective. The NTSB investigation is still in process but having first hand interaction with the woods crew and individuals working the crash site, the information has provided some insight for me.
The incident occurred well into a cycle with minutes of fuel on board, he had just pulled a turn and was navigating the load through the departure path still at very low air speed. Witnesses on the ground heard a loud POP and saw a piece, then more separating from the aircraft. The airframe landed upside down, directly on the load it was carrying, long line still attached.
A single piece of rotor from the servo flap to the tip was reportedly found by itself well away from the crash site while the other three were found in lengths consistent with the strike distance between the towers near the fuselage. The un-separated pieces of all 4 rotor blades were still firmly in their respective grips on the towers. Both sets of rotor blades had been reconditioned by Kaman at their recommended intervals, recently back from the 3rd reconditioning, 4th flight cycle.
NTSB still investigating.
My dad touched many lives in his work and outside, selfishly, he is missed
The pilot was my father, he had been flying since Vietnam and was a love he maintained throughout his life. The K-MAX involved was, to my understanding, the highest flight hour machine in the air at the time. My dad had flow K-MAXs for approx 16 years and a steady with this machine for some 7+ years with the a consistent maintenance team described in his own words "as some of the best he has ever worked with".
In the spirit of this forum, the belief that sharing helps heal the living, and the hope that information in relevant hands is useful, I offer my perspective. The NTSB investigation is still in process but having first hand interaction with the woods crew and individuals working the crash site, the information has provided some insight for me.
The incident occurred well into a cycle with minutes of fuel on board, he had just pulled a turn and was navigating the load through the departure path still at very low air speed. Witnesses on the ground heard a loud POP and saw a piece, then more separating from the aircraft. The airframe landed upside down, directly on the load it was carrying, long line still attached.
A single piece of rotor from the servo flap to the tip was reportedly found by itself well away from the crash site while the other three were found in lengths consistent with the strike distance between the towers near the fuselage. The un-separated pieces of all 4 rotor blades were still firmly in their respective grips on the towers. Both sets of rotor blades had been reconditioned by Kaman at their recommended intervals, recently back from the 3rd reconditioning, 4th flight cycle.
NTSB still investigating.
My dad touched many lives in his work and outside, selfishly, he is missed
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Sounds like a blade failure.
Those high inertia blades would've let him auto it down safely, if it were an engine failure.
Speculating the speculation.
RIP captain!
Those high inertia blades would've let him auto it down safely, if it were an engine failure.
Speculating the speculation.
RIP captain!
