The National Transportation Safety Board said Friday the Sikoirsky S-61 that crashed on the Backbone fire on the Klamath National Forest in northern California on July 17 hit a dip tank, or Heliwell, while it was refilling. The NTSB report said witnesses saw the helicopter hit the tank.
From the Redding Searchlight:
During liftoff, the helicopter experienced a “droop condition,” the NTSB report says, and witnesses saw the copter hit the tank.
The Sikorsky banked until its main rotor blades struck the ground, the report says.
The left, main landing gear was sheared off and the helicopter rolled over onto its side. The hard landing damaged the main rotor blades, the fuselage and tail rotor, the report says. A small amount of fuel spilled, but there was no fire.
Both pilots were able to walk away from the accident, but one suffered serious injuries.
The final NTSB report on the accident is still pending.
Another helicopter-related accident occurred on the same fire on July 21 when Thomas Marovich, 20, of Hayward California incurred fatal injuries when falling 200 feet while performing routine rappel proficiency skill training at the Backbone Helibase.
