Pilots able to walk away from helicopter crash

 Pilots able to walk away from helicopter crash

17 July 2009

published by www.mercurynews.com

USA — Two pilots escaped serious injuries after their firefighting helicopter crashed in a remote area of far Northern California.

A spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service says the pilots of a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter were able to walk away from their helicopter after it went down near the community of Forks of Salmon around 3:16 p.m. Friday.

Spokesman Jim Mackensen says one pilot was flown to a hospital, though his injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. The other pilot declined treatment after being examined by medical personnel.

At the time of the crash, the helicopter was refilling its water tanks between runs over a wildfire burning on the edge on the Klamath National Forest.