From the Alaska Division of Forestry, June 27, 2022:
It is with sad and heavy hearts that we share the news that a pilot supporting the Clear Fire outside Anderson, AK, died in a helicopter crash. The pilot and sole occupant was Douglas Ritchie, 56, of Wasilla, AK. Wildland firefighters and aviators are a close community and are in support of the family, friends, and co-workers during this tragic time.
The crash occurred Sunday evening, June 26, 2022, while landing at the Anderson Airport’s helipad near milepost 280 of the Parks Highway. The Division of Forestry & Fire Protection (DOF) had contracted the 1960 Bell 204B “Huey” helicopter operated by Northern Pioneer Helicopters. The division is assisting the Alaska State Troopers and National Transportation Safety Board who are conducting an investigation.
We send our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and coworkers of Mr. Ritchie.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.
9 Comments
RIP and condolences to his family.
Rest In Peace brother….
Very Very Sad……Heart goes out to His Family and the Friends who’ll miss him ,You pilots are something above Brave ,All Wildland Firefighters are absolutely Brave and I have the upmost RESPECT for…Thank you All.
Why is the State contracting 204Bs? Tue feds won’t touch these airframes because of the age and wear. Any loss is unacceptable, but when Someone tries to save a buck by contracting a sub par product it only infuriates the knowledgeable when the cost is human life.
Are you the knowledgeable person that you refer to in your post? Because it seems to me that you don’t really understand helicopter maintenance or operations. Are you assuming this helicopter crashed because of a mechanical failure? Do you think the engine, transmission, gear boxes, drive lines, etc. are all from the 60s? Or did you take into account that all of those components have likely been overhauled or inspected in the recent past? You do realize that almost all helicopters that fight fires are more than 20 years old, right? Just wondering is all
You are right to be critical of the post above, and I understand your point. But this was a mechanical failure I was there, most likely a defective part.
Nonsense, good maintenance will keep aircraft going for a very long time. We do not know what happened yet. I had a friend that had a crankshaft break in a Cessna 207 with 207 total hours on it.
Good points Kallenberg
Until some of these folks spend more than 4 hours in a shop or field maintenance aircraft environment….those are the Mon AM quarterbacks that many like to call peeps here.
I’m sure the whining goes back to turbine single engine operations that the Fed LMAs used for so long and then proclaimed turbine single engine operations were “unsafe.”
Again….everyone used single engine turbine for YEARS for damn near everything.
We get it twin engine is somewhat safer, but surely is more expensive and 40-50 yrs from now, somebody, somewhere in the land management agencies with no true aviation backgrounds will whine turbine twin engine operations, if they haven’t already and haven’t seen the bills come in yet…..
An Extra pair of eyes while on a Mission is a must. Single Pilot-Save Money is a terrible way to think.
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