Copter rose too slowly, hit a tree
Kelly Zito,Meredith May, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, August 8, 2008
(08-08) 17:21 PDT REDDING - -- The helicopter that crashed Tuesday evening in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest killing nine and injuring four firefighters lifted off from the helipad and moved forward at a slower-than-average speed, federal officials said today.
National Transportation and Safety Board officials said Friday they also recovered the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder - in better-than-expected condition - and rushed it to a Washington D.C. lab, which is expected to examine the device Saturday.
After rising 40 or 50 feet the nose of the helicopter hit a tree, the rotor blades also struck trees and branches before the craft slammed to the ground on its left side. The cabin quickly filled with thick, black smoke, said Kitty Higgins of the National Transportation Safety Board, who spoke today at a press conference in Redding.
Higgins said the details came from 10 witness interviews, and were consistent.
Officials were working with coroners from the region and expect to recover the remains of the victims by the end of the day.
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Showing posts with label Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Show all posts
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Downed copter continues to burn; two firefighters' conditions upgraded
Downed copter continues to burn; two firefighters' conditions upgraded
John Koopman,Kelly Zito, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, August 7, 2008
(08-07) 12:25 PDT REDDING - -- The wreckage of a helicopter continued to burn in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest last night, hampering efforts by authorities to recover and identify the remains of a team of firefighters who crashed on takeoff after helping to fight a wildland fire.
Joe Fields, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said the National Transportation Safety Bureau was on the scene and attempting to start its investigation, but extreme heat from the burning aviation fuel and smoldering remains of the helicopter prevented access to the site.
The crash seriously injured three firefighters and the co-pilot of the helicopter. Three of the injured were transferred to UC Davis Medical Center, while the fourth remained at Mercy Hospital in Redding.
There were nine other people on board the aircraft. The Trinity County Sheriff's Department confirmed one death yesterday but the other eight are listed as missing. They are presumed to have died in the crash.
Ten of the 11 passengers worked for Grayback Forestry of Merlin, Ore., a private contracting firm. It was unclear who the 11th passenger on board the aircraft was, but some reports indicated that it was an official with the Forest Service.
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/07/BA4N12709I.DTL&tsp=1
John Koopman,Kelly Zito, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, August 7, 2008
(08-07) 12:25 PDT REDDING - -- The wreckage of a helicopter continued to burn in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest last night, hampering efforts by authorities to recover and identify the remains of a team of firefighters who crashed on takeoff after helping to fight a wildland fire.
Joe Fields, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, said the National Transportation Safety Bureau was on the scene and attempting to start its investigation, but extreme heat from the burning aviation fuel and smoldering remains of the helicopter prevented access to the site.
The crash seriously injured three firefighters and the co-pilot of the helicopter. Three of the injured were transferred to UC Davis Medical Center, while the fourth remained at Mercy Hospital in Redding.
There were nine other people on board the aircraft. The Trinity County Sheriff's Department confirmed one death yesterday but the other eight are listed as missing. They are presumed to have died in the crash.
Ten of the 11 passengers worked for Grayback Forestry of Merlin, Ore., a private contracting firm. It was unclear who the 11th passenger on board the aircraft was, but some reports indicated that it was an official with the Forest Service.
go here for more
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/07/BA4N12709I.DTL&tsp=1
'I lost all my friends,' says helicopter crash survivor
'I lost all my friends,' says helicopter crash survivor
By Times staff writers 12:17 p.m.
Amid a somber mood, firefighters press on against Shasta-Trinity fire after 9 are believed to have been killed. Witnesses are debriefed and grief counseling is made available.
By Maria LaGanga, Joe Mozingo and Julie Cart, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
12:17 PM PDT, August 7, 2008
JUNCTION CITY, Calif. - Firefighters continued battling fires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest today as federal officials began arriving to investigate the cause of a deadly helicopter crash and grief counselors descended on the base camp here to debrief witnesses and offer aid to crew members.
It was a somber day in the Trinity Alps. At an early morning briefing for firefighters, Jeff Currier, a member of the air support group, told the assembled crowd that when "it feels like you've been kicked in the head . . . you have to move on. We'll be 100% on the move."
Mike Donch, a human resources specialist with the firefighting effort, said that two "critical incident management teams" are arriving today to begin debriefing crew members who witnessed Tuesday's helicopter crash that was believed to have killed nine people and injured four. Grief counseling would also be available for any firefighters who need it, he said.
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By Times staff writers 12:17 p.m.
Amid a somber mood, firefighters press on against Shasta-Trinity fire after 9 are believed to have been killed. Witnesses are debriefed and grief counseling is made available.
By Maria LaGanga, Joe Mozingo and Julie Cart, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
12:17 PM PDT, August 7, 2008
JUNCTION CITY, Calif. - Firefighters continued battling fires in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest today as federal officials began arriving to investigate the cause of a deadly helicopter crash and grief counselors descended on the base camp here to debrief witnesses and offer aid to crew members.
It was a somber day in the Trinity Alps. At an early morning briefing for firefighters, Jeff Currier, a member of the air support group, told the assembled crowd that when "it feels like you've been kicked in the head . . . you have to move on. We'll be 100% on the move."
Mike Donch, a human resources specialist with the firefighting effort, said that two "critical incident management teams" are arriving today to begin debriefing crew members who witnessed Tuesday's helicopter crash that was believed to have killed nine people and injured four. Grief counseling would also be available for any firefighters who need it, he said.
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