What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 04, 2006, at 1947 hours PDT, a SK-65-CH54A, N6156U, was destroyed, while hovering over the klamath river. During transition into climb, the helicopter may have experienced an in-flight breakup, lost t/r control, and crashed into the river. The two pilots, who were the sole occupants were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight operated by the pilot under public use (part 133). There was no post fire, and the helicopter was destroyed. The helicopter was under contract to the us forest service, on a firefighting mission (titus fire). The FAA and NTSB were on site. The t/r head assembly separated from the helicopter, three of the four blades have been accounted for at this time.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 04, 2006, AT 1947 HOURS PDT, A SK-65-CH54A, N6156U, WAS DESTROYED, WHILE HOVERING OVER THE KLAMATH RIVER. DURING TRANSITION INTO CLIMB, THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT BREAKUP, LOST T/R CONTROL, AND CRASHED INTO THE RIVER. THE TWO PILOTS, WHO WERE THE SOLE OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE FLIGHT OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER PUBLIC USE (PART 133). THERE WAS NO POST FIRE, AND THE HELICOPTER WAS DESTROYED. THE HELICOPTER WAS UNDER CONTRACT TO THE US FOREST SERVICE, ON A FIREFIGHTING MISSION (TITUS FIRE). THE FAA AND NTSB WERE ON SITE. THE T/R HEAD ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE HELICOPTER, THREE OF THE FOUR BLADES HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR AT THIS TIME.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.