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Clear Fire Helicopter Crash Fatality 2022

  • Incident Information:

    Attachment Size
    Clear Fire Helicopter Accident NTSB Preliminary Investigation Report.pdf (762.2 KB) 762.2 KB
    Clear Fire Helicopter Accident USFA Notification.pdf

  • Location:

    Alaska

  • Date:

    06/26/2022

  • Incident Type:

    Helicopter Incident or Accident

  • Description:

    On Sunday, June 26, 2022, Pilot Douglas "Doug" Ritchie, the sole occupant of a Bell UH-1B helicopter, was supporting firefighting efforts at the Clear Fire, Alaska. While hovering with a longline, Ritchie maneuvered the helicopter to position the remote hook for external load hook up. A loud mechanical noise was heard and the helicopter rolled right and fell to the ground in a nose-low attitude from a height of about 150 feet. Ritchie was killed in the accident. Investigation into the incident continues.

    Helicopter Incident or Accident, Aviation, Helicopters, Fatality

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