NJFFSA16
09-30-2002, 02:14 AM
BISHOP, Calif. (AP) - A firefighting helicopter crashed on
takeoff Sunday from the Bishop Airport in the eastern Sierra
Nevada, and all four people aboard escaped unharmed, authorities
said.
U.S. Forest Service officials said the helicopter was beginning
a flight back to its base in Bridgeport when the 8:50 a.m. accident
occurred. It had been used to fight a forest fire in the nearby
White Mountains that was fully contained Saturday evening.
The helicopter was destroyed, but the pilot and three crew
members were able to walk away, officials said.
"We feel very fortunate because it could have been worse. We're
just glad that they're all OK," said Forest Service spokeswoman
Christie Kalkowski.
The AS-350-B3 Eurocopter operated on an exclusive-use contract
to the Forest Service.
A Forest Service team has been called in to conduct an
investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board has been
notified.
The helicopter had been making water drops and shuttling crews
on the Piute Fire in the Inyo National Forest's White Mountains.
Bishop is on U.S. 395 in the northern Owens Valley on the
eastern flank of the Sierra.
In June, an air tanker crashed while fighting a forest fire in
Walker in the eastern Sierra, killing all three aboard.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press
takeoff Sunday from the Bishop Airport in the eastern Sierra
Nevada, and all four people aboard escaped unharmed, authorities
said.
U.S. Forest Service officials said the helicopter was beginning
a flight back to its base in Bridgeport when the 8:50 a.m. accident
occurred. It had been used to fight a forest fire in the nearby
White Mountains that was fully contained Saturday evening.
The helicopter was destroyed, but the pilot and three crew
members were able to walk away, officials said.
"We feel very fortunate because it could have been worse. We're
just glad that they're all OK," said Forest Service spokeswoman
Christie Kalkowski.
The AS-350-B3 Eurocopter operated on an exclusive-use contract
to the Forest Service.
A Forest Service team has been called in to conduct an
investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board has been
notified.
The helicopter had been making water drops and shuttling crews
on the Piute Fire in the Inyo National Forest's White Mountains.
Bishop is on U.S. 395 in the northern Owens Valley on the
eastern flank of the Sierra.
In June, an air tanker crashed while fighting a forest fire in
Walker in the eastern Sierra, killing all three aboard.
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press