CH Says Contract Suspension Was In Error

Carson Helicopters' (CH) firefighting contract with the U.S. Forest Service has been temporarily suspended by the USFS due to an aircraft weight issue. The contract requires the company to declare the weight of each helicopter to help project payload capabilities. But during an investigation into the fatal crash of a CH helicopter on Aug. 5, one of CH's other 12,000-lb S-61s was found to be 400 lbs overweight. CH says it reweighed all of its helicopters and found each to be well within contract and OEM weight limits. CH’s Andy Mills said a third party associated with the investigation improperly weighed the aircraft, which resulted in a higher reading. Mills said the suspension should be lifted soon. Related news