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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend October 4, 2006 Erickson helitanker crash-lands at wildfire refilling spot Two pilots fighting California wildfire suffer scrapes, bruises By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Two Erickson Air-Crane pilots escaped serious injury Sunday when their S-64E Aircrane Helitanker crash-landed while fighting the 160,000-acre Day Fire in California's Ventura County. The Central Point helicopter company said in a release that pilots Shawn Lloyd and Fran Tebbe exited the aircraft on their own. A U.S. Forest Service spokesman said they were transported to Ojai Valley Hospital and treated for scrapes and bruises, then released. Shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, the helitanker, flying under contract for the U.S. Forest Service, returned from a firefighting mission to refill its attached tank at Rose Valley Retardant Helibase. The aircraft's flexible hose apparently became caught on the water container, according to an Erickson release. The snorkel broke free and the helicopter's tail rotor hit the ground. The pilots then managed an "auto-rotation" (unpowered) landing and the helicopter rolled over on its right side, sustaining heavy damage, according to Erickson. The accident caused a small fuel spill, but no fire, according to the Forest Service. The Federal Aviation Administration and Forest Service will conduct separate investigations into the incident. Erickson said it has dispatched a team to assist authorities and to retrieve the aircraft, one of 15 heavy-duty helicopters and numerous smaller choppers assigned to the fire. The fire, which began Labor Day weekend, was declared 100 percent contained Monday night. Advertisement Erickson aircraft have been involved in two fatal crashes in the past 26 months. In July 2005, a Rogue River man was killed in a crash during takeoff at Rome's Fiumicino Airport. Mechanic Marty Erickson died in the crash, while fellow mechanic Troy Niemeyer of Eagle Point received minor injuries when the S-64F helitanker went down. In August 2004, an S-64E helicopter built by Erickson and leased to a French company for firefighting efforts crashed on the French island of Corsica. A pilot from British Columbia and his French co-pilot died in the incident. Erickson has an operational fleet of 18 (six S-64Fs and 12 S-64Es), according to company spokesman Dennis Hubbard. Erickson builds and rebuilds helicopters for a variety of global users. Hubbard said an S-64F, which can carry more weight than the S-64E, has recently been completed and is now on fire suppression duty with the Italian Civil Protection Agency. A second S-64E Helitanker purchased by the Korea Forest Service is being flight-tested with completion expected this month. A fourth S-64F purchased by the Italian Forest Service is expected to be completed by January 2007. Another S-64E is being built with an expected completion in the first half of 2007. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or at [email protected] Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Texas Electric Choice Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com