

A Question of Public Use
Original Article in Vertical Daily News
On Aug. 5, 2008, a Sikorsky S-61N operated by Carson Helicopters under contract to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) crashed during takeoff from a helibase near Weaverville, California. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was being used to transport firefighters from “Helispot 44” to another helispot on the Iron Complex fire. Seven firefighters, the pilot-in-command, and a USFS inspector pilot were killed in the crash, which subse