Firefighting Chopper Operations To Resume
POSTED: 9:10 p.m. MDT August 9, 2002
UPDATED: 9:16 p.m. MDT August 9, 2002
A federal agency will resume helicopter
rescue and firefighting operations on Monday for the first time
since a fatal crash at a wildfire near Rocky Mountain National Park
on July 31 killed a chopper pilot.
Rocky Mountain Interagency Helitack voluntarily suspended
operations after pilot Gordon Knight died in a crash while dropping
water on the Big Elk fire.
Investigators said an engine overheated and melted a steel
turbine in the Aerospatiale SA-315B Lama.
Knight and the helicopter were provided by Geo-Seis Helicopters
Inc. of Fort Collins under a contract with Rocky Mountain Helitack.
The down time allowed members of the RMIH program to begin the healing process and ready themselves for a return to full operations, officials said.
Pilot Dave Jackson was expected to fly another Aerospatiale
SA-315B Lama, also provided by Geo-Seis, when operations resume
Monday.
"In honor of Gordon, and in accordance with our agreements with
our stakeholders, our board of directors feels it is imperative
that we continue with our program missions," said Marc Mullenix,
Rocky Mountain Helitack contracting officer.
The agency responds to emergencies, provides air support for
firefighters and helps with search-and-rescue missions primarily
along the Front Range and in Colorado's central mountains.
Rocky Mountain Interagency Helitack voluntarily suspended
operations after pilot Gordon Knight died in a crash while dropping
water on the Big Elk fire.
Investigators said an engine overheated and melted a steel
turbine in the Aerospatiale SA-315B Lama.
Knight and the helicopter were provided by Geo-Seis Helicopters
Inc. of Fort Collins under a contract with Rocky Mountain Helitack.
The down time allowed members of the RMIH program to begin the healing process and ready themselves for a return to full operations, officials said.
Pilot Dave Jackson was expected to fly another Aerospatiale
SA-315B Lama, also provided by Geo-Seis, when operations resume
Monday.
"In honor of Gordon, and in accordance with our agreements with
our stakeholders, our board of directors feels it is imperative
that we continue with our program missions," said Marc Mullenix,
Rocky Mountain Helitack contracting officer.
The agency responds to emergencies, provides air support for
firefighters and helps with search-and-rescue missions primarily
along the Front Range and in Colorado's central mountains.
Previous Stories:
- August 6, 2002: Cause Of Big Elk Chopper Crash Known
- July 31, 2002: Pilot Identified In Big Elk Fire Chopper Crash
- July 30, 2002: Chopper Crashes Near Big Elk Fire
Copyright 2002 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
