Pilot Landed Aircraft Safely, Crew Not Injured

A National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report released Sunday confirmed a DC-10 firebomber, operated for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CalFire) was damaged last month during a retardant drop on a brush fire near Tehachapi.

"The flight crew was on their third flight of the day and preparing to jettison a load of retardant," the NTSB report says. "While in a left turn from base to final for the drop, the left wing dipped downward and impacted several trees."

As ANN reported, the aircraft sustained damage to the leading edge of the left wing, and to control surfaces including the aileron.

The odd part is the crew didn't even realize they'd brushed the trees. According to San Diego KGTV-10 News, the plane's crew did not feel the trees strike the wing, but an observer on the ground saw lumber splinter and immediately notified the pilots on the radio.

After impact, the pilot climbed to 11,000 feet for a controllability check. "The crew declared an emergency and returned to the departure airport... where they landed uneventfully," said the report.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise said the DC-10 is out of service for repairs for at least another week following the close-call June 25.

Rick Hatton, one of the aircraft's owners, told reporters the left engine itself was not damaged. "That was pretty lucky, because it hangs down of the left wing and there was damage to either side of it," he said.

Cal Fire Chief Mike Padilla said he is reviewing all DC-10 air operational plans, and the agency is conducting its own investigation.

"We're looking at everything from the weather, turbulence, on that date to our procedures for lining up the aircraft and how the pilots are perceiving the drop," he said.

Padilla said even experienced pilots can often be fooled by mountain topography. "We've had several tree strikes this year."

The DC-10's flight crew has had to undergo air-tanker operations refresher training for as a result of their mishap.

FMI: Read The NTSB Prelim, www.fire.ca.gov