What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On August 5, 2008, at approximately 1940 pacific dayligt time, a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter, N612AZ, operated by carson helicopter servics inc., under contract of the us forest service, impacted terrain while departing helo sport 44 on the buck horn fire NE, California. The flight was conducted under 14 code of regulations part 91 public use aircraft. The flight departed from the helo sport 44 on green mountain, near junction city, California, the captain, a us forest service inspector pilot, and seven passengers were fatally injured. Three passengers and the first officer were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A us forest service automatic flight following system was being used to track the position of the aircraft. The purpose of the flight was to transport fire fighters to the heli-base 36 in willow creek,California and return to heli spot 44 to PIC up ten more fire fighter. Flight standards will take any actions required.
As the FAA filed it
ON AUGUST 5, 2008, AT APPROXIMATELY 1940 PACIFIC DAYLIGT TIME, A SIKORSKY S-61N HELICOPTER, N612AZ, OPERATED BY CARSON HELICOPTER SERVICS INC., UNDER CONTRACT OF THE US FOREST SERVICE, IMPACTED TERRAIN WHILE DEPARTING HELO SPORT 44 ON THE BUCK HORN FIRE NE, CALIFORNIA. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CODE OF REGULATIONS PART 91 PUBLIC USE AIRCRAFT. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM THE HELO SPORT 44 ON GREEN MOUNTAIN, NEAR JUNCTION CITY, CALIFORNIA, THE CAPTAIN, A US FOREST SERVICE INSPECTOR PILOT, AND SEVEN PASSENGERS WERE FATALLY INJURED. THREE PASSENGERS AND THE FIRST OFFICER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. A US FOREST SERVICE AUTOMATIC FLIGHT FOLLOWING SYSTEM WAS BEING USED TO TRACK THE POSITION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TRANSPORT FIRE FIGHTERS TO THE HELI-BASE 36 IN WILLOW CREEK,CALIFORNIA AND RETURN TO HELI SPOT 44 TO PIC UP TEN MORE FIRE FIGHTER. FLIGHT STANDARDS WILL TAKE ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.