An unfortunate incident occurred in Cabazon when two Cal Fire helicopters collided midair. One helicopter crashed and resulted in the deaths of the three men on board. According to federal officials, the collision happened because one helicopter overtook the other in a mountainous area, and the pilots were apparently unaware of their positions in relation to each other.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently released its preliminary report on the crash that took place on August 6. The incident destroyed a Cal Fire Bell 407 helicopter in the vicinity of Apache Trail and Pipeline Road.
The accident claimed the lives of Cal Fire Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, 46, from Menifee; Cal Fire Capt. Timothy D. Rodriguez Jr., 44, from San Jacinto; and contract pilot Tony Sousa, 55, from Red Bluff.
According to the NTSB, the ill-fated flight departed from Hemet-Ryan Airport at approximately 6:35 p.m. and was en route to the Broadway Fire, which was burning on the west end of Cabazon. The report reveals that a Cal Fire Sikorsky S-64 water-dropping helicopter took off from Hemet-Ryan three minutes after the Bell helicopter, following the same path.
“The Bell helicopter maneuvered northeast toward Cabazon,” the report stated. “The Sikorsky helicopter traveled northeast through mountainous terrain and continued northeast, gradually descending toward Cabazon.”
NTSB investigators discovered that radar tracks from the transponders on each helicopter indicated a converging flight path until the moment of the collision.
There is no information regarding whether the pilots were communicating with each other or if they were on the same frequency. It is also unclear if they were providing position reports. These details might shed light on the cause of the midair collision, which occurred in daylight with visibility of 10 miles.
The collision happened at 6:44 p.m., causing the Bell helicopter to spiral out of control and crash into a steep and rocky hillside. The fuselage then burst into flames. Bischof, Rodriguez, and Sousa tragically lost their lives at the scene.
The Sikorsky crew, fortunately, landed safely less than a mile away without any injuries. The sky crane sustained minor damage, with a section of its right main landing gear missing. The Broadway Fire, which burned 20 acres, was contained later that evening without causing any damage to homes or structures.
A month ago, Bischof, Rodriguez, and Sousa were honored and laid to rest in public tributes.
The NTSB is expected to release the final report on this tragic collision within the next 24 months.
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