Remains at helicopter crash site to be recovered soon

Copter rose too slowly, hit a tree
Kelly Zito,Meredith May, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, August 8, 2008

(08-08) 17:21 PDT REDDING - -- The helicopter that crashed Tuesday evening in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest killing nine and injuring four firefighters lifted off from the helipad and moved forward at a slower-than-average speed, federal officials said today.

National Transportation and Safety Board officials said Friday they also recovered the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder - in better-than-expected condition - and rushed it to a Washington D.C. lab, which is expected to examine the device Saturday.

After rising 40 or 50 feet the nose of the helicopter hit a tree, the rotor blades also struck trees and branches before the craft slammed to the ground on its left side. The cabin quickly filled with thick, black smoke, said Kitty Higgins of the National Transportation Safety Board, who spoke today at a press conference in Redding.

Higgins said the details came from 10 witness interviews, and were consistent.

Officials were working with coroners from the region and expect to recover the remains of the victims by the end of the day.
click post title for more