California Helicopter Crash NTSB Findings

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) the helicopter that crashed on Aug. 5, killing nine and seriously injuring four people, lost power to its main rotor as it was taking off. This preliminary finding explains why witnesses saw the Sikorsky S-61N take off and move more slowly up and forward than usual from the remote helibase. The early NTSB report does not state the reason for the loss of power to the rotor.

The firefighting helicopter, operated by Carson Helicopters was assigned to bring about 50 firefighters out of the Trinity Alps. It had completed two trips, and went to refuel at a helibase in Weaverville and to pick up additional firefighters at the 6,000-foot-elevation backcountry site and was leaving when the nose and rotor struck nearby trees. The chopper crashed and landed onto its side and quickly was consumed by fire.

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