Helicopter Transport Services CH-54A accident near Cove Fort, UT
On August 7, 2026, a Helicopter Transport Services CH-54A (helicopter) was involved in an accident near Cove Fort, UT. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 7, 2026
- Place
- Cove Fort, UT
- Aircraft
- Helicopter Transport Services CH-54A · Helicopter
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.630°N, 112.477°W
- NTSB ID
- 20260807203546
NTSB summary
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 direct
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
