The NTSB is investigating after two California firefighting helicopters collided in midair last evening just before sunset. The aircraft—a 1975 Sikorsky S-64E Air Crane and a 2004 Bell 407—were responding to the Broadway Fire in Cabazon, 17 miles northwest of Palm Springs. The 407 was being operated by Aero Leasing of Medford, Oregon, on behalf of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The three aboard that aircraft died and the wreckage ignited another small brush fire.
Also under contract to Cal Fire and operated by Siller Helicopters of Yuba City, California, the S-64E made a hard landing and all three onboard survived. The accident was reported shortly before 7:20 p.m. local time. Sunset was at 7:42 p.m
“While engaged in the firefight, two helicopters collided,” said Cal Fire southern region chief David Fulcher. He identified the dead as the contract pilot, a Cal Fire division chief, and a Cal Fire captain.
The aircraft took off from Hemet-Ryan Airport within minutes of each other shortly after 6:30 p.m. The last tracking data from FlightAware, at 6:45 p.m., showed both aircraft near Banning Municipal Airport (KBNG), approximately six miles from Cabazon. The 407 was on a heading of 111 degrees, an altitude of 2,375 feet, descending at 94 feet per minute, and at an airspeed of 120 knots. The S-64 was on a heading of 80 degrees, an altitude of 2,500 feet, and descending at 632 feet per minute, at an airspeed of 113 knots. Field elevation at KBNG is 2,222 feet msl. The accident occurred just south of the I-10 freeway near the Morongo Casino Resort, four miles east of Banning.
According to officials, the fire began at 6 p.m. when a structure fire ignited nearby grasslands, quickly grew to 20 acres, and began threatening residences in the area. Cal Fire immediately called for aerial support as part of its strategy to attack fires in their nascent stages.