# Accident 20230806010812A: Bell 407, Cabazon, CA, August 6, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 6, 2023, 16:42 local time
- Place: Cabazon, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: QVHA
- Location: 33.9143° N, 116.8067° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9143&lon=-116.8067&mi=10
- Aircraft: N555AS, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N555AS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bell 407 (registry code 1182206, https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-407) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Honeywell HTS-900-2 series (registry code 33915, https://openairdocs.org/engine/honeywell-hts-900-2-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELL 407
- Reported engine: HONEYWELL HTS-900-2
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 3
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,085 total, 470 in this make and model, 105 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23FA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA302) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230806010812A

## Narrative

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

ON 08/06/2023 (08/07/2023 UTC) A BELL 407 HELICOPTER AND CH-54A HELICOPTER SEPARATELY DEPARTED THE CAL FIRE BASE LOCATED IN HEMET, CA ENGAGED IN FIRE SUPPORT ACTIVITIES BEING OPERATED IN THE VICINITY OF CABAZON, CA IS VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. AROUND APPROXIMATELY 16:42 LOCAL TIME, THE BELL 407 COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE OF THE CH-54A AT APPROXIMATELY 2,300' MSL WHILE IN THE COURSE OF OVERTAKING THE LARGER HELICOPTER FROM BEHIND AND BELOW WHILE EASTBOUND. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE OVERTAKING PILOT EVER HAD THE OTHER HELICOPTER IN SIGHT OR WAS AWARE OF ITS PRESENCE.  EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE BELL 407'S MAIN ROTORS STRUCK THE CH-54A'S RIGHT MAIN TIRE, RESULTING IN THE PARTIAL INFLIGHT BREAKUP OF AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE BELL 407. THAT HELICOPTER THEN APPEARED TO FALL AND IMPACT THE GROUND IN AN AREA OF ELEVATED TERRAIN, BEFORE IT TUMBLED DOWN GRADED TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST IN A DEBRIS FIELD AT THE BASE OF THE HILL. THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF THE PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS ONBOARD AS WELL AS A BRUSHFIRE AT THE IMPACT SITE. FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE SITE AND ENGAGED IN NECESSARY FIRE EXTINGUISHING ACTIVITY BEFORE BEING ABLE TO SECURE THAT SITE FOR RECOVERY.  THE CH-54A AIRCRAFT CIRCLED NORTH AFTER THE COLLISION AND LANDED NEXT TO A SERVICE DIRT ROAD NORTH AND WEST OF THE BELL 407 IMPACT SITE. THE TWO PILOTS ONBOARD THE CH-54A REPORTED NO INJURIES AND OBSERVED DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER OF A FLAT RIGHT MAIN TIRE. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION DISCOVERED NO ADDITIONAL DAMGE TO THE CH-54A.  INVESTIGATION HAS ESTABLISHED THAT CAL FIRE USES AND WAS USING PROCEDURES TO SEPARATE AIRCRAFT PARTICIPATING IN FIREFIGHTING ACTIVITIES, BUT NO DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THOSE PROCEDURES, THEIR EXECUTION, OR PILOT ACTIONS IN ACCORDANCE OR DIFFERENCE TO THOSE PROCEDURES, CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT HAS YET BEEN ESTABLISHED BY NTSB INVESTIGATION. SHOULD THE NTSB FIND THAT CAL FIRE AIRCRAFT SEPARATION PROCEDURES, PROCEDURE EXECUTION BY OTHER PARTICIPANTS, OR PILOT EXECUTION OF THOSE PROCEDURES HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ACCIDENT, THIS REPORT WOULD THEN REQUIRE AMENDMENT FOR PILOT ERROR OR OTHER THAN PILOT/FLT CREW FACTORS.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N4037S, Sikorsky S-64E: [Accident 20230806010821A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230806010821A)

## 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 WPR23FA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA302), Aug 7, 2023: Bell 407 (N555AS), Cabazon, CA, substantial damage, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The Skycrane flight crew’s decision to enter the Fire Traffic Area’s 7-nm NOCOM ring at an altitude significantly above their maximum cleared altitude, which resulted in their need for an aggressive…

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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