S-61 crash in California claims nine lives
Investigators are continuing to study why a Carson Helicopters Sikorsky S-61N “Fire King” crashed August 5, killing nine of 13 aboard.

Investigators are continuing to study why a Carson Helicopters Sikorsky S-61N “Fire King” crashed August 5, killing nine of 13 aboard. This was the first major crash of an S-61 in 25 years.

The 35,000-hour, 1965 S-61N had refueled shortly before it crashed while lifting off from 6,000-foot-elevation Helispot #44 on the Buckhorn Fire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 15 miles northwest of Junction City, Calif. The helicopter was en route to the firebase at Weaverville, Calif. The NTSB preliminary report states that the helicopter “experienced a loss of power to the main rotor during takeoff initial climb, and subsequently” crashed into trees and terrain at 7:41 p.m. local time. The helicopter came to rest on its side and was immediately engulfed in flames. The wreckage burned until the next morning.

Loading…