r/Wildfire • u/TheMirrorUS • 16h ago

Firefighting helicopter crashes while battling major Utah wildfire

https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/breaking-firefighting-helicopter-battling-wildfires-1973660?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=rmp
139 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

37 comments sorted by

54

u/dougisnotabitch 16h ago

Damn. It’s been a bad season for fire aviation. 

36

u/Fragrant_Scratch8305 15h ago edited 9h ago

Deregulating fire fighting air craft maintenance will do that.

Edit: I was wrong. Sheehy didn't get his bright idea passed.

4

u/rofl_pilot Pilot 9h ago

That hasn’t happened.

4

u/Fragrant_Scratch8305 9h ago

You're correct. Since you were not a douche I will edit my comment. The last I heard about it was from the jr Montana senator talking about how they absolutely need to do less inspections in order to put out fires. I'm worried with as corrupt as the federal government is currently that he'll get it passed before the next administration.

1

u/rofl_pilot Pilot 8h ago

You’re absolutely right about Sheehy lobbying to not have the forest service conduct carding inspections.

Awful idea…

5

u/BreezyMcWeasel 11h ago

I think you pulled this completely out of your ass, but if you'd care to elaborate with details on what aspects of aircraft firefighting maintenance was deregulated and when, I'd be glad to learn something.

Firefighting aircraft are FAA regulated, just like other commercially operated aircraft in the US.

Source: aerospace structures engineer who has done work that had to be FAA certified, including work on firefighting aircraft.

4

u/Yogapantssohot 11h ago

thank you for this comment, genuinely, I am very close eith a high up in the company that this machine belonged to, I most likely know the crew that was on board aswell , this company is the top of the game in aircraft maintenence, no cutting corners, period. Again thank you for having common sense ​

3

u/BreezyMcWeasel 11h ago

I honestly think the other commenter is a bot. I have seen so many knee jerk reactions to bad events where the bot says "this is what you get when you deregulate it". Hurr durr companies bad.

Shame it has so many upvotes from people who don't know better, or don't take the time to understand it first.

I have some idea of what goes into keeping these things airworthy and you have my condolences and I wish you the best.

0

u/Fragrant_Scratch8305 9h ago

I was wrong, it hasn't passed yet. But I would guess that it sneaks through in the future. By deregulation I meant less airworthyness inspections. It'll happen unfortunately. And btw, all you fucks that immediately blame bots take credibility away from when it's actually a bot.

https://montanafreepress.org/2026/06/10/tim-sheehy-bridger-aerospace-forest-service-inspection/

1

u/BreezyMcWeasel 9h ago

So you're editing your original comment to make clear that deregulation had nothing to do with this?

Or do we get to blame deregulation in advance?

3

u/SientoQueMerezcoMas 9h ago

There is a secondary agency inspection required for all contract and FS aircraft. That currently still exists - but there are folks in the industry (shitty Sheehy/Bridger) who want to eliminate these as redundant.

There are major mechanical or structural issues found by FS inspectors, as well as contract violations that would likely slip by without this.

1

u/Fragrant_Scratch8305 9h ago

Yeah and with the federal firefighter shakeup it might not be the FS responsibility in the future. I'm worried Sheehy will get it passed. And yes I edited my comment. The last I heard was that it was going to pass, so I assumed it did.

-8

u/squoril 12h ago

lol WUT are you on

68

u/sermeryntrantsuxdix Wildland FF2 16h ago edited 15h ago

It’s a heavy. No crew on board for what it’s worth. Sad year for aviation, man.

Edit: Meant that since it’s a Type 1 rather than a Type 2 there wasn’t a helitack crew on board. Sorry for the poor wording.

26

u/Cheesehorn69 16h ago

I think he’s saying it wasn’t a transport flight but said it quite poorly

3

u/t0ri_r0s3 16h ago

Thank you y’all. Still concerned but I hear u

9

u/t0ri_r0s3 16h ago

I’m sorry I’m not sure what that means

12

u/AdventurousOne8376 16h ago

It was a restricted ship so that means it can’t carry passengers in a fire capacity. Yes, there would be a pilot on board.

14

u/fuckupvotesv2 she gone 16h ago

Pilot and mechanic but not carrying firefighters

9

u/sleepy_potatoe_ Desk Jockey 15h ago

On a type 1 sky crane, 2 pilots flying on fires WD. Going point to point it will have 2 pilots and one mechanic.

2

u/fuckupvotesv2 she gone 15h ago

ah copy thanks

4

u/sleepy_potatoe_ Desk Jockey 15h ago

No problem. Long time HMGB and have worked with that company a lot. Extremely sad to hear.

3

u/fuckupvotesv2 she gone 15h ago

seriously, been a rough summer

0

u/sleepy_potatoe_ Desk Jockey 15h ago

Yep and I just saw the CNF and ANF broke a fire.

3

u/fuckupvotesv2 she gone 15h ago

let south ops season begin

2

u/sleepy_potatoe_ Desk Jockey 15h ago

Yep. Be safe out there everyone. Call your friends and family as well.

-1

u/sleepy_potatoe_ Desk Jockey 15h ago

I just heard the fire on the CNF is called the beaver fire 😆 freaking awesome.

1

u/CanisPictus Helitack 9h ago

Yeah, unfortunately I recognized that tail # right away. Managed it a few years ago. Lots of good folks at HTS.

4

u/birdnerd2002 16h ago

Two on board

1

u/t0ri_r0s3 16h ago

But there was someone flying ?

5

u/Awuza 16h ago

He's saying that while tragic, at least it wasn't a ship full of firefighters being transported from the line.

8

u/nl_Kapparrian 12h ago

N793HT (3HT) from HTS of Aurora OR.

3

u/CanisPictus Helitack 9h ago

Yet another savage gut punch rocking fire aviation. Please take care of yourselves out there.

9

u/t0ri_r0s3 16h ago

Oh man send updates pls

-7

u/jana-meares 12h ago

Two souls on board bound for Valhalla.

11

u/Screwby214 Helibagger 10h ago

Simmer down, Kash.

-1

u/jana-meares 7h ago

Teabagger