Aviation International Rotors CH-54A accident near Happy Camp, CA
On August 5, 2006, an Aviation International Rotors CH-54A (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Happy Camp, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 5, 2006
- Place
- Happy Camp, CA
- Aircraft
- Aviation International Rotors CH-54A · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.661°N, 123.448°W
- NTSB ID
- 20060814X01171
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 4, 2006, at 1947 Pacific daylight time, an Aviation International Rotors CH-54A, N6156U, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following an in-flight separation of a tail rotor blade while maneuvering near a dip site near Happy Camp, California. The Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) was utilizing the helicopter under contract as a public-use firefighting tool [heli-tanker (HT) 790] under the provisions for 14 CFR Part 91. The helicopter was registered to Heavy Lift Helicopters Inc. (HLH), of Apple Valley, California, and the flight crew was employed by HLH. The airline transport pilot (ATP) captain and ATP co-pilot both sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a USFS flight plan was filed. The flight was receiving flight following from the USFS dispatch personnel at the time of the accident. The helicopter was flown to the Happy Camp Complex in Happy Camp, California, on July 29, 2006, to help suppress the Titus Fire. The helicopter was stationed at the Happy Camp helibase where it was maintained and dispatched. On the morning of the accident, the helicopter went through a series of maintenance and flight tests after having its number 1 engine replaced the night before. The helicopter was returned to service at 1645 by the HLH mechanics and the USFS helicopter manager. The helicopter was then dispatched to the Titus fire where it conducted a number of water drops. After 2.2 hours of flight (at 1902), the helicopter returned to the helibase where it was refueled with approxima
Probable cause
The fatigue failure of tail rotor blade spindle, which resulted in the separation of the blade and tail rotor gearbox.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
