Cal Fire UH-1 helicopters are back in service.
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Wasting no time! I like it 
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Both of Kern’s (CA-KRN) were back yesterday afternoon; 407 for hoist and 408 for fire.
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Believe the grounding was due to a bad “batch” or defect on the rotor strap pins. Our 205 was back in service after an inspection determined that our strap pin wasn’t part of that batch. Think the same was done for all other aircraft.
Safe flying.
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so was it determined a rotor strap pin caused the heli to crash??? I find that hard to believe since centrifugal force pretty much prevent major blade lag in flight. If anything would be a wicked shimmy or vibration from being of track a little.
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I saw the picture of the pin in the TT strap. Sheered clean off each side of the TT strap like it was made from a stick of butter. I didn’t believe it myself ‘till I saw it.
According to the AD effective July 5, investigators discovered that one of the outboard main rotor hub strap pins sheared off during flight, leading to detachment of the main rotor blade and rotor head. The failed pin had reportedly accumulated just 20 hours in service.
Inspection of another Canadian Bell 212 helicopter found a main rotor hub strap pin made by the same manufacturer, with the same serial number prefix “FNFS,” to be deformed after less than 30 hours in service.
Although defective main rotor hub strap pins were only reported on Bell 212 helicopters, strap pins of the same part number can also be installed on Bell 204B, 205A-1 and 205B helicopters. As a precautionary measure, the AD — following an alert service bulletin (ASB) from Bell — mandates that operators of these models determine the serial numbers of installed strap pins, and replace any with the prefix “FNFS” before further flight.
“While we’re not at liberty to discuss details of the Transport Safety Board investigation, all of us at Bell are extremely saddened by this loss,” a Bell spokesperson told Vertical by email. “Our heartfelt thoughts go out to those onboard the aircraft as well as their family and loved ones. Even though the investigation is still in progress, to insure fleet safety, the main rotor strap pins identified in the ASBs should be removed from service before the next flight.”
Transport Canada was the first regulator to issue an emergency AD on the subject. Even in advance of the AD, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service on July 4 initiated a temporary stand down of its Bell 205, 210, and 212 helicopters as a safety precaution. The Forest Service relies on a number of these aircraft for firefighting activities, including the transport of personnel.
“The USDA Forest Service then implemented the actions outlined in the Bell Helicopter alert service bulletin (issued July 5) for all affected helicopters. Most of these contract aircraft have already returned to service and we expect to have all of the inspections completed soon,” a Forest Service spokesperson told Vertical on July 6.
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