https://www.wesh.com/amp/article/firefighting-helicopter-crashes-into-marsh-near-leesburg-airport-during-training-exercise-faa-says/36536545

Looks like N9FH from Brainerd Firehawk.  

RIP.   

https://www.asias.faa.gov/apex/f?p=100:96:2626559769705::::P96_ENTRY_DATE,P96_MAKE_NAME,P96_FATAL_FLG:26-MAY-21,BHI+H60+HELICOPTERS

FAA is already claiming the bucket entered the rotor system. one can't help but wonder if there is a video of it being right on the airfield. 

Regardless, RIP to those in the aircraft. Please keep this thread appropriate regardless of your feelings towards this company. 

~Cheers 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZxTlPEaFr4

You can hear one of the calls to tower at 0:56, sounds like another day in the office. If you've worked there, you'll recognize that voice. Not sure who else was with him though. 

Condolences to the loved ones.

Rest easy brother. You'll be missed for sure. We had some fun times back in the day.

The FAA did not say the bucket entered the rotor system. You did. Stop making s up.

IDENTIFICATION Date: 25-MAY-21 Time: 22:00:00Z
Regis#: N9FH Aircraft
Make: BHI H60 HELICOPTERS
Aircraft Model: UH-60 Event Type:
ACCIDENT Highest Injury: FATAL Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: DESTROYED LOCATION City: LEESBURG State: FLORIDA Country: UNITED STATES DESCRIPTION
Description: AIRCRAFT CONDUCTING FIRE WATER DROP EXERCISES, LOST CONTROL OF THE BUCKET CUASING THE ROTOR SECTION TO SEPARATE, CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, LEESBURG, FL.
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 4

Damn.   

Anyone have info on who the crew was? Initials?

Witness indicates some kind of tail rotor malfunction. 

How do you loose control of the bucket to the point it gets into the main rotor? Seems more likely they lost control with it on a long line and it went into the tail rotor?

I dont know details but the guy was experienced. Had been with the company and flying the hawk for 4-5 years. Multiple articles elude to them testing a new bucket or a new release mechanism. Again I dont know the details but the pilot was one of the most solid dudes Ive ever worked with and about as good a friend as someone could ask for. Condolences to the families. 

R.I.P.

It wasn't a bucket, it was a tanking system, get your facts correct.

Cool. Pretty sure I said twice in my post that I didnt hsve details and was just stating what I read in a few articles. Good to know their is still twits like you out there just itching to jump on someone. Tank or bucket doesn't change the fact that my post was meant to pay respects to a friend who was a good guy and a solid pilot, a sentiment obviously shared by others considering it has more likes than any other comment in the thread. Crawl back down into moms basement, if your lucky she might bring you another sandwich.

Have any names been released yet?

One of the Pilots is CK.

RIP buddy, Alway a fun guy to be around, you'd laugh until your stomache hurt. Always had a positive outlook and would never let you get down. Hopefully you're doing Hurricane Katrina's in the afterlife!

Do you know which tank it was?  I've seen 3 different tanks on those.  I have heard some talk about the acccordian type tanks coming open in flight.

I doubt this would help, but in this video it shows a snorkel from the gunner's seat sliding window. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSAyqKm7ADQ

Has anyone seen them using something like this on a fire?

That snorkel is out of control, pretty sure you can see it fly above the tail boom...