# Accident 20230806010821A: Sikorsky S-64E, 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: Minor damage
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Other, Specify
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: JSPL
- 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: N4037S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4037S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sikorsky S-64E (registry code 8142604, https://openairdocs.org/model/sikorsky-s-64e) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JFTD12A series (registry code 52047, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jftd12a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SIKORSKY S-64E
- Reported engine: P & W JFTD12A SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- 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/20230806010821A

## 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. 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.

## 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: Sikorsky S-64E (N4037S), Cabazon, CA, minor 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…

## Other reports on N4037S (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19820112002959I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820112002959I), Jan 12, 1982: Skrsky S64E (N4037S), San Jose, CA, Minor damage. Tail rotor struck runway just before touchdown for landing. Left main strut was flat. Piece of rotor hit cockpit.

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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