TO: Chair, National Fire Equipment Steering Committee (NFES)

RE: Helicopter Accessory Equipment

DATE: February 6^th^ 2007

The Chair of IHOps was recently tasked with providing representation for
the aviation community to the NFES Steering Committee. I attended a
meeting of the NFES on November 15^th^ 2006 here in Boise. Based on
existing issues and discussions at that meeting several concerns
regarding helicopter accessory equipment need to be addressed.

The USFS and BLM representatives to IHOps recently met with Carl
Bambarger, Aviation Program Leader, San Dimas Technology & Development
Center (SDTDC). I will attempt to recap the issues and proposed
resolutions that were discussed.

1.  Helicopter Swivel Retrofit

    -   Carl mentioned that we are entering the final year of the
        contract to retrofit swivels from the inferior spring gated
        keeper hook to the eyelet-style (failsafe) hook and that there
        are still swivels in the system that need to be converted.

*Recommend: SDTDC send IHOps a memo to forward to the helicopter
community discussing the process and prompting field units to get all
remaining swivels in need of upgrade sent in for retrofit.*

*Info Emailed 2-23-2007.*

2.  Leadline Proof Tags are problematic:

    -   The new specification (Specification 5100-503 and 505) addresses
        this issue by specifying the attachment point and tag
        composition material (stainless or brass) of the tag. Existing
        equipment is far from standard, proof tags are sometimes made of
        aluminum and are attached in a variety of locations by several
        different means. Opportunity exists for proof tags to wallow out
        and separate in-flight creating a flight safety hazard.

    -   Upon refurbishment if a proof tag is missing the leadline must
        be re-sent to a certified rigging company to be proofed to twice
        the rated working load and retagged regardless of when it was
        last checked.

    -   Why not stamp the rated capacity on the swedge in an effort to
        eliminate the need for a proof tag? Why are we continually
        re-testing this piece of equipment? Rappel Ropes are stamped on
        the swedge by the manufacturer.

*Recommend: SDTDC re-evaluate the requirement to continually proof the
wire rope to see if this is an OSHA requirement or self imposed. Share
results with NFES and IHOps.*

*Feb 23, 2007 -- OSHA requirements being investigated (Ron Tam).*

*Recommend: SDTDC research the ramifications of stamping metal swedges
as it applies to the leadline and rappel rope. Share results with NFES
and IHOps.*

*Feb 23, 07 -- Stamping swedges being investigated.*

*Recommend: NFES direct the Refurbishment Committee to change Storage
and Refurbishing Standards Handbook as needed.*

*TBD depending on above.*

3.  Straight Throated J-hook equipped leadlines are not compatible with
    existing cache helicopter equipment:

    -   On July 26^th^ of 2005 DOI Safety Alert 05-02 identified this
        issue of the new smaller J-hooks not accepting two rings of a
        cargo net to attach properly. No corrective solution has been
        identified at this time.

    -   All leadline J-hooks have a spring loaded metal keeper gate, the
        same problematic gate that we are attempting to get rid of
        through retrofit on all swivels.

    -   Specification 5100-503 and 505 call for the use of the
        eyelet-style (failsafe) hook only. This will address the issue
        for all new purchases of leadlines.

    -   Carl demonstrated a potential solution of installing a shorter
        spring loaded metal keeper gate on the hook; this would only
        resolve a portion of the lines due to inconsistent tolerances
        between manufactures. The final product of this solution is less
        than ideal and continues to prolong the continual issue of
        spring loaded metal keeper gates.

*Recommend: NFES issue direction to all caches and field units to go
through stocks of leadlines to inventory and set aside the problematic
equipment until a solution is determined.*

*Recommend: SDTDC generate a proposal addressing issues associated with
converting the problematic leadline hooks to an eyelet-style hook; cost
estimate to replace the hook as well as the effect on the length of a
leadline, etc.* *Share results with NFES and IHOps.*

*Feb 23, 2007 -- Boise Cache sent approx. 60 units for retrofit. Will
meet with supplier next week to discuss retrofit.*

4.  Four Corner Cargo Nets

    -   Specification 5100-502 allows for either "Four-Corner
        Pickup-Style" or "Drawstring-Style" cargo nets to be constructed
        under the same specification.

    -   In excess of \$400K worth of "Four-Corner Pickup-Style" nets
        were inadvertently purchased. These nets have been held out of
        the system at the request of the National HOS of both USFS and
        BLM. This cargo net is inferior to the current stock and will
        create a multitude of issues if issued.

*Recommend: SDTDC separate the cargo nets into two distinct
specifications to promote ordering the desired type of cargo net while
still allowing for future purchase of the "Four-Corner Pickup-Style"
cargo net if needed.*

*Feb 23, 2007 -- Two separate specs are in draft form. Plan to release
by Mid March.*

*Recommend: SDTDC contract for retrofit of ten "Four-Corner
Pickup-Style" cargo nets into "Drawstring-Style" nets to determine cost
estimate, impact to overall volume and feasibility of converting. Share
results with NFES and IHOps.*

*Feb 23, 2007 -- GSA to send two nets for retrofit. Vendor states that
the size will not decrease. The retrofit nets will tell the full story.*

*Recommend: NFES asks National Cache postpone issuance of "Four-Corner
Pickup-Style Nets" pending research of retrofit options.*

5.  Helicopter Load Beam Nominal Ring Size issue:

    -   Not all of the various sizes of rings associated with cache
        helicopter accessory equipment are compatible with every make
        and model of helicopter belly hooks.

    -   An alternate style of swivel and leadline could prove cheaper to
        procure and provide a solution to the Nominal Ring Size issue.

*Recommend: SDTDC fabricate ten, double ringed swivels and associated
double hooked leadlines. IHOps will facilitate conducting a beta test
with the equipment and report finding back to SDTDC.*

*Feb 23, 2007 -- Two samples for testing at SDTDC have been sent to NIFC
for concept demonstration. Upon return of samples, SDTDC will test
samples on belly hook test stand. NIFC to send additional belly hook
data to assure that two ring sizes will meet the interface requirements
of all hooks.*

6.  SEI proposed changes to their Pumpkin Tanks:

    -   Carl briefed us in regards to SEI's proposal to reduce the total
        supplied fill/discharge outlets on their vinyl pumpkin tanks.
        Currently the outlets are standard 3" NPT and total number
        incorporated vary from 2 to 4 based on tank size. SEI would like
        to limit all tank outlet to 2 and at the same time reduce the
        diameter of the outlet from 3 inches to 2 inches.

    -   A minimum of 2 outlets should be sufficient.

*Recommend: SDTDC consult with water handling specialist at National
Cache in regards to proposed change of diameter to volume pump outlet
interface with pumpkin tank.*

*Feb 23, 2007 -- SDTDC to discuss at Cache managers meeting during Mar
6-8 meeting.*

*Recommend: SDTDC send IHOps a memo outlining the agreed to changes to
forward to the helicopter community for informational purposes.*

*Feb 23, 2007 -- TBD depending on above.*

Brad Gibbs

Brad Gibbs

Chair, IHOps Steering Committee

\(208\) 387-5182

<brad_gibbs@nifc.blm.gov>

CC: Carl Bambarger

CC: Paul Naman

CC: Matt Cnudde