Contributing to the fatalities and survivors' injuries were the immediate and intense fire that resulted from fuel spillage from the fuel tanks that were not crash resistant, the separation from the floor of the cabin seats that were not crash resistant, and the use of an inappropriate mechanism on the cabin seat restraints. The pilot-in-command, the safety crewmember, and seven firefighters were fatally injured; the copilot and three firefighters were seriously injured.

On August 5, 2008, a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter (N612AZ), which was being operated by the USFS as a public flight to transport firefighters battling forest fires, impacted trees and terrain during the initial climb after takeoff at a location about 6,000 feet above sea level in mountainous terrain near Weaverville.  

The USFS had contracted with Carson Helicopters, Inc. (CHI) of Grants Pass, Oregon, for the services of the helicopter, which was registered to CHI and leased to Carson Helicopter Services, Inc. (CHSI), also of Grants Pass. 

"The probable cause of this accident had to do with Carson's actions and the oversight entities' inactions," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "Carson engaged in a bargain that violated the trust of their crewmembers, the firefighters that they carried onboard, and the aviation industry.  

But the FAA and the Forest Service did not hold up their end of the deal to oversee Carson's actions. Public aircraft have been made the orphans of the aviation industry. It's now time for the FAA and other government agencies to step up and take responsibility." In order to prevent similar accidents and to improve the survivability of such accidents when they do occur, the NTSB issued 11 new recommendations to the FAA and reiterated one from 2006. Ten recommendations were issued to the USFS.