Friday, July 22, 2022

Boeing CH-47D Chinook, N388RA: Fatal accident occurred July 21, 2022 in Salmon River, Idaho

National Transportation Safety Board - Accident Report Number: CEN22FA331

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Boise, Idaho

Helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances while conducting fire fighting operations. 

ROTAK Helicopter Services


Date: 21-JUL-22
Time: 20:25:00Z
Regis#: N388RA
Aircraft Make: BOEING
Aircraft Model: CH47
Event Type: ACCIDENT
Highest Injury: FATAL
Total Fatal: 1
Flight Crew: 2 Fatal
Pax: 0
Activity: FIREFIGHTING
Flight Phase: UNKNOWN (UNK)
Operation: 133
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL
City: SALMON
State: IDAHO

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation may contact them by email witness@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov. You can also call the NTSB Response Operations Center at 844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290.

Thomas Hayes and Jared Bird died after their helicopter crashed into the Salmon River on July 21, 2022. 


A fill-the-boot campaign has been organized to help the families of two pilots killed in a helicopter crash.


Jared Bird and Thomas Hayes



SALMON — A fill-the-boot campaign is underway in Lemhi County to support the families of two pilots killed while helping fight a forest fire last week.

Thomas Hayes, 41, of Post Falls and Jared Bird, 36, of Anchorage, Alaska died after their helicopter crashed into the Salmon River Thursday afternoon. The pilots were assisting firefighters in battling the Moose Fire inside the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

Patti Schwind says the accident has left her community devastated and she wanted to do something to help. The Salmon resident worked for the U.S. Forest Service over 32 years and has seen many forest fires during her life.

“It’s been such a tragic thing for us and the firefighters and the locals. I go into businesses and people are in tears,” Schwind tells EastIdahoNews.com. “Even though nobody knew these guys, people wanted to help.”

Schwind decided to organize a fill-the-boot fundraiser. She contacted a U.S. Forest Service liaison who’s been in touch with the pilots’ families and they were fine with the idea.

“So I called Becky and Ja Nel Anderson, my two dear friends at Rags & Wags – the local thrift store. I said I needed them and explained what I wanted to do,” Schwind says.

The Andersons went into the basement of the thrift store and found several old pairs of rubber boots, which they cleaned, scrubbed and waxed. Purple ribbons were attached to each boot along with a flyer explaining the project.

“We thought maybe five businesses might help out, but we really didn’t know what to expect,” Becky Anderson says.

Schwind posted about the boots on Facebook and people instantly responded that they wanted one at their business. Jervois Mining reached out and said they had six pairs of boots to donate to the cause.

“We spent Tuesday passing out 43 boots between Salmon, North Fork and Gibbonsville,” Schwind says. “Someone from Challis and someone from Dillon, Montana called asking if they could have some boots. I had no idea it would take off like it has and our little team of three has been busy.”

Anderson says it’s been amazing to watch the community come together in such a short amount of time, but she’s not surprised.




“That’s how it is here all the time. Whether they’re a stranger or a best friend, the community will come together to support,” Anderson explains. “That’s just what we do. We’re a tight-knit community who jumps in to help.”

The boots will be out for the next few weeks. When the project is done, Schwind plans to split the funds between the Hayes and Bird families. She’s been in touch with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation, which has been supporting the families with travel expenses, hotel costs and other expenses.

The remains of the pilots have been at funeral homes in Salmon and Missoula, Montana. Hayes and Bird were veterans and an “honor watch” has been underway at both funeral homes. Firefighters or veterans have been standing guard from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. every day. Funeral details have not been publicly announced.

GoFundMe fundraisers have been created for Hayes and Bird for those who wish to donate online.

The cause of the crash has not been released and the NTSB, along with the FAA, continues to investigate.

“This has been tragic, but the community wanted to help, and they’re doing it. I commend the community of Salmon for stepping up and being willing to help. We want them (the pilots’ families) to know how much we care,” Schwind says.

Our attorneys tell us we need to put this disclaimer in stories involving fundraisers: EastIdahoNews.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries.



Thomas Patrick Hayes 
~


SALMON, Idaho - The family of Thomas Patrick Hayes reached out to KHQ to let us know that their son was one of the two killed in a firefighting helicopter crash. 
 
A spokesperson for the Salmon-Challice National Forest Service confirmed Hayes' identity along with Jared Bird, a 36-year-old from Anchorage, Alaska. 
 
According to his mother, Rebecca Hovey, Hayes was 41 years old, has three children and a girlfriend in Post Falls who had two kids who he viewed as his own. 
 
Hovey said that he had plans to work for Life Flight.
 
Hayes was pilot for many years served in the Air Force where he got his start as a mechanic and worked his way to pilot. 
 
"He was a staunch military man, a true patriot, an upright hardworking person and citizen, and a perfectionist," Hovey said. 
 
He grew up in Orofino and has family in Saint Maries and Lewiston.
 
According to his mother, he was driven and this was his passion. 
 
"We will miss him so badly, but he died doing what he loved." Covey said. "He loved his children and his family."


Thomas Hayes, 41, lived in Post Falls, but grew up in Orofino, Idaho.
~





SALMON, Idaho – The two helicopter pilots involved in a crash near the Salmon River Thursday afternoon were killed.

Details about the crash are unavailable, but a news release from the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office indicates the call came in just before 5 p.m. Officials with the U.S. Forest Service were already involved in rescue efforts and lifesaving measures when local search and rescue arrived.

“The rotorcraft contained two pilots who were extricated and transported to medical facilities. Despite the life-saving measures in place, each pilot succumbed to their injuries,” the news release says.

The names of the pilots were 41-year-old Thomas Hayes of Post Falls and 36-year-old Jared Bird of Anchorage, Alaska. Both of them were employees of ROTAK Helicopter services, decorated veterans and highly experienced pilots.

“We are devastated by this incredible loss,” Ely Woods, General Manager of ROTAK Helicopter Services writes in a statement to EastIdahoNews.com. “Tommy and Jared represented the absolute best our country has to offer. Our hearts go out to their families, friends and loved ones.”

ROTAK is working with the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Forest Service during an investigation of the crash.

All ROTAK helicopters have been grounded until further notice.

“We are grateful for the first responders and volunteers assisting in the response, and will provide more information at the appropriate time,” Woods writes.

The two pilots were assisting firefighters battling the Moose Fire about five miles southwest of North Fork near Salmon inside Salmon-Challis National Forest. The blaze has now burned 23,620 acres, according to a news release from Salmon-Challis National Forest.

No other injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire has not been determined.

7 comments:

  1. I'm saddened to hear of yet another loss during fire suppression operations, the GM spoke well when he said "absolute best our country has to offer". Rest in peace to both

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  2. no mention of a crew chief!

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    1. Most civilian operators of aircraft like the CH-47, UH-60, CH-46 etc. operate without a crew chief aboard for fire suppression ops due to safety concerns. They CH-47 for example has the rear maintenance panel normally monitored by the crew chief repositioned to the cockpit to allow detailed monitoring of aircraft systems by the pilots.

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  3. Hayes "was a staunch military man" - The helicopter pilot stayed to fight the fire until his last breath. Thank you, sir, for your service.

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  4. Nice video of the bird from a stop made 5 days before the crash. Blades start to rotate at 3:43, taxi/takeoff at the end of the video.
    https://youtu.be/jNmH9QrytRQ

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  5. ChInooks have flight engineers assisted by a crew chief In military use. For civilian purposes they do not need a flight engineer due to the fact that they do not do internal loads, or short lead external loads. Everything is done with a long lead and the pilots can see it from the cockpit. I crewed 3 models.

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