NTSB -- IMPROPER CONTRACTOR ACTIONS AND INSUFFICENT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT LED TO 2008 FATAL FIREFIGHTING HELICOPTER CRASH NEAR WEAVERVILLE, CALIFORNIA, NTSB SAYS

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NTSB PRESS RELEASE

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 7, 2010

SB-10-46

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IMPROPER CONTRACTOR ACTIONS AND INSUFFICENT FEDERAL

OVERSIGHT LED TO 2008 FATAL FIREFIGHTING HELICOPTER CRASH

NEAR WEAVERVILLE, CALIFORNIA, NTSB SAYS

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The National Transportation Safety Board today determined

that a series of improper actions by the contractor and

insufficient oversight by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and

the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) led to the August

5, 2008, fatal crash of a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter near

Weaverville, California. The contractor's actions included

the intentional alteration of weight documents and

performance charts and the use of unapproved performance

calculations.

Contributing to the accident was the failure of flight

crewmembers to address issues related to operating the

helicopter at its maximum performance capability.

Contributing to the fatalities and survivors' injuries were

the immediate and intense fire that resulted from fuel

spillage from the fuel tanks that were not crash resistant,

the separation from the floor of the cabin seats that were

not crash resistant, and the use of an inappropriate

mechanism on the cabin seat restraints. The pilot-in-

command, the safety crewmember, and seven firefighters were

fatally injured; the copilot and three firefighters were

seriously injured.

On August 5, 2008, a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter (N612AZ),

which was being operated by the USFS as a public flight to

transport firefighters battling forest fires, impacted trees

and terrain during the initial climb after takeoff at a

location about 6,000 feet above sea level in mountainous

terrain near Weaverville. The USFS had contracted with

Carson Helicopters, Inc. (CHI) of Grants Pass, Oregon, for

the services of the helicopter, which was registered to CHI

and leased to Carson Helicopter Services, Inc. (CHSI), also

of Grants Pass.

"The probable cause of this accident had to do with Carson's

actions and the oversight entities' inactions," said NTSB

Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "Carson engaged in a bargain

that violated the trust of their crewmembers, the

firefighters that they carried onboard, and the aviation

industry. But the FAA and the Forest Service did not hold up

their end of the deal to oversee Carson's actions. Public

aircraft have been made the orphans of the aviation

industry. It's now time for the FAA and other government

agencies to step up and take responsibility."

In order to prevent similar accidents and to improve the

survivability of such accidents when they do occur, the NTSB

issued 11 new recommendations to the FAA and reiterated one

from 2006. Ten recommendations were issued to the USFS.

Recommendations to the FAA include oversight of 14 Code of

Federal Regulations Part 135 operators with aircraft that

can operate part of the time as public aircraft and part of

the time as civil, clarification of oversight

responsibilities for public aircraft, accuracy of hover

performance charts, pilot performance, fuel tank

crashworthiness, and occupant protection.

To the USFS, the NTSB recommended the development of

mission-specific operating standards for firefighter

transport operations, a requirement that its contractors

adhere to these standards, and the creation of an oversight

program that can monitor and ensure contractor compliance

with all standards and requirements. Other issue areas for

the USFS recommendations included pilot training, occupant

protection, weather instrumentation, and onboard recorders.

A synopsis of the NTSB report, including the probable cause,

conclusions and safety recommendations, will be available on

the NTSB website.

The NTSB's full report will be available on the website in

several weeks.

# # #

NTSB Media Contact: Bridget Serchak

202-314-6100

Bridget.serchak@xxxxxxxx

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