# Accident 20230805022559A: Boeing CH-46E, Springerville, AZ, August 5, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 5, 2023, 16:30 local time
- Place: Springerville, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
- Operator: BZHL
- Location: 33.7306° N, 109.4112° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7306&lon=-109.4112&mi=10
- Aircraft: N461WY, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N461WY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing CH-46E (registry code 1351610, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-ch-46e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: GE T58 series (registry code 30008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-t58-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING CH-46E
- Reported engine: GE T58 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 11,800 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA306) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230805022559A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 5, 2023, AT 1520, A BOEING CH-46 HELICOPTER, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS PERFORMING FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS UNDER CONTRACT WITH THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT (BLM) IN RESPONSE TO THE CORDUROY FIRE, UNDER THE OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE US FOREST SERVICE, 24 MILES SW OF SPRINGERVILLE AZ.

THE PILOT AND CREW REPORTED THAT AFTER FILLING THE WATER BUCKET AND CLIMBING TOWARD THE FIRE THERE WAS A LOUD HORN AND #2 ENGINE RUNWAY/HIGH SIDING. THE PIC TURNED TO A KNOWN LANDING AREA FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND EMPTIED THE BUCKET OF WATER. THE PIC STATED HE RETARDED #2 ECL AND TORQUE RESPONDED. ON FINAL THE RATE OF DESCENT INCREASED AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. THE PIC SAYS HE RESPONDED BY RELEASING THE BUCKET AND MOVING THE #2 ECL TO THE FLY POSITION TO GET ANY AVAILABLE POWER FROM THE ENGINE.

THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE PILOT, CO-PILOT, AND CREW CHIEF EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN THE POST CRASH FIRE.

THE ENGINES WERE SHIPPED TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^FOR INSPECTION WHERE NOTHING SIGNIFICANT WAS NOTED. WHAT REMAINED OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER DEBRIS WAS ALSO INSPECTED WITH NOTHING SIGNIFICANT FOUND.

## 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 WPR23LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA306), Aug 5, 2023: Boeing CH-46E (N461WY), Springerville, AZ, destroyed. Probable cause: The flight crew’s misidentification of a No. 2 torque sensing system signal conditioner malfunction when both engines were performing normally, which resulted in their attempt to execute a…

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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