NTSB -- NTSB TO OPEN PUBLIC DOCKET ON WEAVERVILLE, CALIFORNIA HELICOPTER CRASH

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NTSB ADVISORY

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

September 16, 2009

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NTSB TO OPEN PUBLIC DOCKET ON WEAVERVILLE, CALIFORNIA

HELICOPTER CRASH

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As part of the Safety Board's investigation into the crash

of a helicopter near Weaverville, California, the NTSB will

open the public accident docket on Wednesday, September 16,

2009.

On August 5, 2008, about 7:41 p.m. (PDT), a Sikorsky S-61N

helicopter (N612AZ) impacted trees and terrain during the

initial climb after takeoff from Helispot 44, located at an

elevation of about 6,000 feet in mountainous terrain near

Weaverville, California. The airline transport pilot, the

safety crewmember, and seven firefighters were killed; the

commercial copilot and three firefighters were seriously

injured. Impact forces and a post-crash fire destroyed the

helicopter. The helicopter was being operated by the United

States Forest Service (USFS) as a public flight to transport

the firefighters from Helispot 44 to another location. The

helicopter was registered to Carson Helicopters, Inc. (CHI)

of Grants Pass, Oregon, and leased to Carson Helicopter

Services, Inc. (CHSI) of Grants Pass. The USFS had

contracted with CHI for the services of the helicopter.

Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of

the accident, and a company visual flight rules flight plan

had been filed.

The information being released is factual in nature and does

not provide any analysis. It will include investigative

group factual reports, exhibits, interview transcripts,

photographs, and other documents from the investigation.

Additional material will be added to the docket as it

becomes available. Analysis of the accident, along with

conclusions and a determination of probable cause, will come

at a later date when the final report on the investigation

is completed.

This will be a document release only; no interviews will be

conducted.

The docket will be made available at 12:00 p.m. (EDT) on the

Safety Board's website at http://www.ntsb.gov/Info/foia_fri-

dockets.htm.

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Media contact:

Bridget Ann Serchak

202.314.6100

bridget.serchak@xxxxxxxx

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