# Accident 20060804014979A: Skrsky CH54A, Happy Camp, CA, August 4, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 4, 2006, 19:47 local time
- Place: Happy Camp, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Hovering
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Location: 41.6608° N, 123.4483° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6608&lon=-123.4483&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6156U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6156U-2013-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aviation International Rotors CH-54A (registry code 8142507, https://openairdocs.org/model/aviation-international-rotors-ch-54a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT12A series (registry code 52056, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt12a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKRSKY CH54A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 14,000 total, 4,212 in this make and model, 82 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX06GA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06GA254) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060804014979A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX06GA254](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06GA254), Aug 5, 2006: Aviation International Rotors CH-54A (N6156U), Happy Camp, CA, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of tail rotor blade spindle, which resulted in the separation of the blade and tail rotor gearbox.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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