# NTSB ANC26FA079: Helicopter Transport Services CH-54A, N793HT, Cove Fort, UT, August 7, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: August 7, 2026, 10:44 local (16:44 UTC) - Place: Cove Fort, UT - Coordinates: 38.629745, -112.47663 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6297&lon=-112.4766&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Helicopter Transport Services, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Interior (DOI) - NTSB case key (mKey): 203546 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26FA079 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203546/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26FA079 ## Preliminary report On August 7, 2026, about 1044 mountain daylight time, a Helicopter Transport Services (Sikorsky) CH-54A Skycrane Helitanker, N793HT, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Cove Fort, Utah. The pilot and copilot were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 133 aerial firefighting flight. The helicopter, owned and operated by Helicopter Transport Services, was conducting aerial fire suppression operations under an exclusive-use contract with the United States Forest Service (USFS) in support of the Wide Mouth 2 Fire in central Utah. It was equipped with a 2,650-gallon water tank and a retractable hover-snorkel system. According to the USFS, the helicopter departed Richfield Municipal Airport (RIF) about 1021 and proceeded toward the Wide Mouth 2 Fire to begin firefighting operations. After departure, the flight crew established radio communications with the aerial supervisor and received authorization to enter the temporary flight restriction (TFR) area surrounding the fire. The aerial supervisor briefed the crew on the initial firefighting objectives, which included coordinated aerial water-drop operations. The helicopter proceeded to a predetermined water source, filled its tank, and then continued to the designated drop area as directed. As the helicopter approached the drop site, the aerial supervisor transferred communications to the ground supervisor, who provided specific instructions regarding the target area. According to the ground supervisor, the helicopter arrived from the northwest, and he directed the crew to the location where water was needed. The helicopter then flew over the area to verify the target, and the flight crew confirmed they had identified the correct location. The crew subsequently reported that they would make another pass before releasing the water load. While maneuvering in a right turn, the helicopter disappeared behind a knoll. The ground supervisor then heard a radio transmission stating, “Oh (expletive), we have a problem,” followed about one second later by, “Mayday, mayday, mayday.” No further communications were received from the helicopter. The helicopter impacted rising terrain, and a post-crash fire consumed much of the airframe (see figure 1). Figure 1. Aerial overview of accident site. (U.S. Forest Service Drone Photo) The investigator-in-charge from the NTSB’s Alaska Regional Office, accompanied by an NTSB aerospace engineer and helicopter specialist, responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage on August 9, 2026. During the on-scene investigation, components were retained for further examination and testing. The results of those examinations are pending. Recovery of the wreckage will take place when fire conditions and logistical considerations allow. A detailed examination of the airframe and engines is pending. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Helicopter Transport SVC CH-54A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=4450002), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N793HT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N793HT), registered now, S/N 67-18427, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Helicopter Transport Services (Sikorsky) CH-54A - Registry model: [Helicopter Transport SVC CH-54A](https://openairdocs.org/model/helicopter-transport-svc-ch-54a) (registry code 4450002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JFTD12A-4A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jftd12a-4a) (registry code 51502, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 67-18427 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 7667.8 - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Firefighting, Part 133 - Operator: Helicopter Transport Services - Registered owner: U S Leaseco Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, August 1, 2026 - Departed: KRIF, Richfield, UT - Destination: KRIF, Richfield, UT - Flight plan: Company VFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Video recording device ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 13 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.24 inHg - Observed at: KMLF, 30 nm away - METAR: METAR KMLF 071652Z AUTO 22013G22KT 10SM CLR 30/09 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP158 T03000094 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20260807010199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260807010199A), Aug 7, 2026: Helicopter Transport Svc LLC CH-54A, Richfield, UT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. During part 133 firefighting flight. [privacy data omitted] Arrived from the northwest flying over the targeted drop zone. While maneuvering in a right turn… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.