According to a nationwide investigation, a helicopter lacked communication after a fatal crash, and suddenly, unauthorized descendants killed two firefighters and contract pilots to fight the Riverside County fire in 2023.
The National Transportation Safety Commission has released Final report Thursday and concluded that the possible cause of the air collision was the failure of a crew member to follow the judgment of multiple safety procedures.
Assistant Chief of California Forestry and Fire Protection Joshua Bischof, 46, California Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez, 44, and pilot Tony Sousa, 55, were killed in the August 6, 2023 incident. The trio flew with other air units, flying with a small blank outside Cabassas.
These people are on the boat Bell 407 single-engine public helicopter The Hemet-Ryan Airport that left was about 16 nautical miles from the fire.
At about the same time, another helicopter, a heavenly currency used for dripping water, left the same airport on the fire.
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Firefighters are fighting a small fire in the Kabason area when two helicopters collided and hit the ground. Another landed safely.
But they traveled in a separate direction, the bells ventured in the north, and remained west of the San Jacinto Mountains. Skycrane walks northeast through part of the same mountain range.
Both must communicate with the group supervisor to understand when and where they will enter the area designated to put out the fire.
No helicopters received “definite radio signals” from group supervisors, giving them gaps to make them within 12 nautical miles of the fire or within seven miles of the so-called fire traffic area, the final gap for all air fire units, the report said. Report analysts believe that the mountainous terrain played a role in the spread collapse.
Both helicopters manipulated better sights in a bid to re-establish communication with group supervisors, the report said.
The bell connected to the supervisor before entering the fire traffic area, but Skycrane did not.
The Bell team was told to drop, rather than climbing over 2500 feet. When its crew pulled to five nautical miles of the fire, the chopper remained at that height.
The report said the currency headed toward six nautical miles of the fire, which was the crew getting clearance from group supervisors to keep “2,500 feet and below.”
The supervisor warned the crew that “there are multiple hazards in the area”.
The report noted that the currency at that time was 4,000 feet and climbed another 300 feet, possibly avoiding the terrain.
After the initial upward burst, Skycrane then reduced its “aggressiveness” to 2500 feet. The report said that three seconds later, as the spacecraft was immersed in another 50 feet, the Tianjing Rock hit the bell.
The bell was hit by Skycrane’s right wheel and tire assembly.
The report said an explosion occurred after the impact, and the tail arm of the bell, the main rotor, the mast and the transmission were separated from the helicopter. The rest of the fuselage continued to hit the ground.
The clock’s main rotor blade chops up the Skycrane’s right main wheel and tire assembly.
However, the crew of the two members of Skycrane were not injured.
The report includes decision-making and judgment, surveillance of other aircraft and the discovery of possible causes of the crash.
“Skycrane pilots should recommend [the group supervisor] The aircraft cannot comply with the altitude clearance, please inform us [the supervisor] The report notes that their positive decline falls fall under the definition of non-standard action and constitutes communication of air supervision. ”
Cal Fire will adopt new security measures, including improved trial training and updated communication protocols, KTLA report. The news outlet also noted that a false death lawsuit has been filed on behalf of all three collision victims.
“We thank the NTSB for its thorough investigation and accountability for this completely avoidable aerial collision,” said KTLA, who represented the Bischof and Rodriguez families.
“These people are carrying out a heroic mission of saving lives and their losses are miserable not only to their families, but to their communities.”
