Croman Corporation SH-3H accident near Covelo, California, September 1, 2012
On September 1, 2012 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Croman Corporation SH-3H (helicopter), registered N611CK, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Covelo, California. It was a firefighting flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree during an aerial firefighting flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2012 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Covelo, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Croman Corporation SH-3H
- Registration
- N611CK · registry record · serial 148966
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Firefighting flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter was involved in firefighting operations. The pilot flying was in the left seat, and the senior pilot was in the right seat. The pilot completed numerous water drops on the fire during a 2-hour period. The helicopter was making its second drop in an area of steep terrain, which was about 1,000 feet lower in elevation than the lake the pilots were using for a water source. Due to the smoke, the visibility was about 1/2 mile. All five main rotor blades made contact with a snag (typically the remnants of a tree such as the trunk and/or main branches without most of its foliage), and were substantially damaged; the operator pointed out that the snag was similar in color to the smoke. The senior pilot took control of the helicopter, climbed, and made an uneventful landing near the fill point.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Awareness of condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Haze/smoke › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 168 in the last 90 days; 74 in the last 30 days; 19,500 as pilot in command; 3,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 24, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,303 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command; 800 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 7, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 16,082 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 1, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 21,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Ge T58-GE-402 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge T58-GE-402 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: Croman CORP
The flight
- Departed from: O09 Covelo CA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: O09 Covelo CA
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KUKI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.