Doomed Dome Fire chopper dropped water bucket right before fatal Yosemite dive: feds

Chilling new details capture the final moments of a firefighting helicopter before it plunged into the trees at Yosemite National Park, killing two pilots.The horrifying Sept.20 crash claimed the lives of Greg King, 56, of Alaska, and Ryan Cutter of Utah, who were battling the Dome Fire when their chopper suddenly lost altitude and slammed into a forested mountainside.A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board details the aircraft’s terrifying final seconds — including a sudden leftward swerve, a rapid descent and a desperate-looking release of its dangling water bucket moments before impact.The doomed Eurocopter AS32 Super Puma helicopter had already spent nearly three hours fighting the wildfire, completing more than 25 water drops before trouble emerged with its 800-gallon bucket, which hung from a 200-foot cable beneath the aircraft.According to investigators, the helicopter was having issues with its water bucket and returned to their helibase where mechanics tightened the bucket’s air pressure regulator and performed a pressure check.The helicopter was then cleared to return to firefighting operations, taking off again.

But less than 30 minutes later, disaster struck.After collecting water from Ostrander Lake, the pilots completed two drops near a designated landing area.California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!The report found that the helicopter swerved left during the second drop but continued its mission, returning to the lake for another load.The aircraft then began its third drop, when the situation rapidly deteriorated.Flight-tracking data show the bucket emptied in roughly three seconds as the helicopter veered left and began sinking toward the trees.Its ground...