[kellyhound]

The US Forest Service has issued an initial report regarding the tragic crash of a Boeing CH-47D helicopter on July 21 during firefighting operations for the Moose Fire, located approximately 20 air miles northwest of Salmon, Idaho. Regrettably, both pilots on board lost their lives in the incident.

Here is the complete narrative section from the document, dated July 22, 2022, although it was only recently posted on the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned site:

On July 20, a call-when-needed CH-47D Series Chinook Helicopter crashed into the Salmon River, near the Indianola Work Center, roughly 11 miles west of North Fork, Idaho, while assisting with the Moose Fire.

The helicopter suffered significant damage, and the pilots were extracted and transported to hospitals. Tragically, both pilots sustained fatal injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been informed and will conduct an investigation into the accident. The USDA Forest Service has also established a learning review team to assess the incident.

The two pilots aboard the helicopter were identified as T. H, aged 41, from Post Falls, Idaho, and J. B, aged 36, from Anchorage, Alaska.

The helicopter was operated by ROTAK Helicopter Services, based in Anchorage. The FAA has confirmed that the helicopter's registration number is N388RA, one of two CH-47D aircraft recently acquired by ROTAK from Columbia Helicopters.

[Mr.NoCredit]

Amazing there was someone around to film the accident. Was a tad worried the actual impact wouldn’t be captured. He got a little off track there for a second but didn’t let us down in the end. Spectacular crash!

[v1r]

Beat me to it. Some crazy footage!

[Stevieaitch]

helos suck

[durt]

That almost looked survivable, sorry to hear they didn't make it.

[Hunted]

Looks like the copilot dropped his I-Pad and it jammed the controls. NTSB will be out with the final report in a few weeks

[am1984]

stooopid merrican technaalgy