Shuttling crewmen from Los Padres Santa Lucia Crew III to a 1990 wildfire, this Bell 212 lost hydraulic pressure and hobbled back to the helipad with passengers and ground crews preparing for the worst. Losing altitude as its engine churned a hideous metallic growl, the ship narrowly cleared tall trees around the Crane Flats Helibase.

Its landing skids and windshield buckled upon impact as the ship slammed to earth. The craft and crew were pitched forward and the rotors whined to a sudden stop. The pilot and crew luckily limped away, some with back pain, one had a broken nose. With nervous relief the shaken pilot declared "Nobody's dying on my ship."