Sikorsky S-55T accident near Lytle Creek, California, August 30, 2002
On August 30, 2002 at about 5:06 pm local time, a Sikorsky S-55T (helicopter), registered N747A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lytle Creek, California. It was a public-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the hydraulic system due to contamination in the hydraulic fluid, which resulted in an in-flight loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2002 · about 5:06 pm local time
- Place
- Lytle Creek, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sikorsky S-55T · all S-55Ts on the register
- Registration
- N747A · registry record · serial 55-910
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The helicopter collided with terrain while attempting a precautionary landing due to a hydraulics system failure. The helicopter was engaged in firefighting water drops. While returning to pickup additional fuel, and make bucket repairs, the red hydraulic failure light illuminated and the flight controls became stiff. About 10 feet above the ground, the cyclic flight control moved "hard over," which resulted in the nose moving up and to the right until the main rotor blades contacted the ground. The helicopter came to rest on its right side. Post crash examination by a laboratory revealed contamination of the hydraulic fluid by water and microbial growth.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,815 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 1,719 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 11, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,689 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 20, 2001; 74.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett-Airesearch TSE 331-3LL (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lytle Creek CA at 3:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KONT, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.