Toro Peak CH-53A Sea Stallion 7/6/07

On May 16, 1968, USMC CH-53A Sea Stallion #154875 from HMH-462 at Santa Ana crashed while on a mission to install communications relay equipment atop Toro Peak. One of the sixteen men on boa ...

2009-08-22T10:23:52Z

Joe Idoni
On May 16, 1968, USMC CH-53A Sea Stallion #154875 from HMH-462 at Santa Ana crashed while on a mission to install communications relay equipment atop Toro Peak. One of the sixteen men on boa ...

This is the start of the Santa Rosa Mountain Road off Hwy 74. The 12.5 mile road leads to the top of Toro Peak, but there's a closed gate about quarter mile from the top.

2009-06-25T17:30:27Z

Joe Idoni
This is the start of the Santa Rosa Mountain Road off Hwy 74. The 12.5 mile road leads to the top of Toro Peak, but there's a closed gate about quarter mile from the top.

Saw this sign on a rock.

2009-02-11T01:39:32Z

Joe Idoni
Saw this sign on a rock.

Further up the road came upon a tree with a stange message. "Like War To U Fire To Me A Tree Is Death". This is kind of creepy.

2009-06-25T17:37:36Z

Joe Idoni
Further up the road came upon a tree with a stange message. "Like War To U Fire To Me A Tree Is Death". This is kind of creepy.

Found out later that these signs were painted by "Desert Steve" Ragsdale in the early 20th century warning of the fire danger.

2009-02-11T01:39:36Z

Joe Idoni
Found out later that these signs were painted by "Desert Steve" Ragsdale in the early 20th century warning of the fire danger.

Getting near the top. Was happy to find that the first gate was open. This site has been on my list of sites to visit for a few years, finally getting around to it.

2009-06-25T17:23:49Z

Joe Idoni
Getting near the top. Was happy to find that the first gate was open. This site has been on my list of sites to visit for a few years, finally getting around to it.

Looking up from the area I parked. The gate is a couple hundred feet up the road. It will be about a quarter mile hike to reach the top.

2009-06-25T17:26:29Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up from the area I parked. The gate is a couple hundred feet up the road. It will be about a quarter mile hike to reach the top.

Looking across the helipad towards the peak.

2009-02-11T01:39:00Z

Joe Idoni
Looking across the helipad towards the peak.

The helipad from above looking east. The plan is to look for wreckage near the peak and follow it down the slope and hopefuly end up back near the truck.

2009-06-25T17:27:29Z

Joe Idoni
The helipad from above looking east. The plan is to look for wreckage near the peak and follow it down the slope and hopefuly end up back near the truck.

From the edge of the helipad, I could see small pieces of wreckage.

2009-02-11T01:39:56Z

Joe Idoni
From the edge of the helipad, I could see small pieces of wreckage.

Some of the wreckage that's near the helipad.

2009-06-25T17:13:42Z

Joe Idoni
Some of the wreckage that's near the helipad.

This was the most interesting piece in the aera.

2009-02-11T01:38:26Z

Joe Idoni
This was the most interesting piece in the aera.

Someone collected some of the pieces.

2009-06-25T17:27:58Z

Joe Idoni
Someone collected some of the pieces.

Hiking down a little, came upon the main rotor head assembly. My truck is in the red circle.

2009-06-25T17:36:32Z

Joe Idoni
Hiking down a little, came upon the main rotor head assembly. My truck is in the red circle.

What little info I had about the site did mentioned that main rotor would be here. It's more impressive looking than I expected.

2009-06-25T17:29:29Z

Joe Idoni
What little info I had about the site did mentioned that main rotor would be here. It's more impressive looking than I expected.

Me with the rotor head, this thing is bigger an it looked like from above.

2009-06-25T17:32:00Z

Joe Idoni
Me with the rotor head, this thing is bigger an it looked like from above.

One of the six blade mounts.

2009-02-11T01:40:06Z

Joe Idoni
One of the six blade mounts.

Other view of the blade mount.

2009-06-25T17:32:22Z

Joe Idoni
Other view of the blade mount.

View of the underside of the rotor head.

2009-02-11T01:39:35Z

Joe Idoni
View of the underside of the rotor head.

I think the gears are part of the blade folding system.

2009-06-25T17:36:40Z

Joe Idoni
I think the gears are part of the blade folding system.

The swashplate assembly.

2009-06-25T17:29:32Z

Joe Idoni
The swashplate assembly.

The bull gear that transferred power from engines to the transmission.

2009-06-25T17:34:51Z

Joe Idoni
The bull gear that transferred power from engines to the transmission.

The shaft from the other side.

2009-02-11T01:38:11Z

Joe Idoni
The shaft from the other side.

Me again with a top view of the rotor head.

2009-06-25T17:37:59Z

Joe Idoni
Me again with a top view of the rotor head.

Looking up at the rotor head as I continue down the slope.

2009-06-25T17:34:23Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the rotor head as I continue down the slope.

Found partially buried wreckage in a few places. This is a section of the fuselage with part of the landing gear.

2009-06-25T17:37:22Z

Joe Idoni
Found partially buried wreckage in a few places. This is a section of the fuselage with part of the landing gear.

Another shot of the same piece showing part of the landing gear.

2009-06-25T17:34:33Z

Joe Idoni
Another shot of the same piece showing part of the landing gear.

This piece has aluminum honeycomb with a fiberglass skin.

2009-02-11T01:38:41Z

Joe Idoni
This piece has aluminum honeycomb with a fiberglass skin.

Small piece of electronic gear.

2009-06-25T17:34:57Z

Joe Idoni
Small piece of electronic gear.

More buried wreckage.

2009-06-25T17:33:36Z

Joe Idoni
More buried wreckage.

Lot of stuff scattered on the slope.

2009-02-11T01:37:33Z

Joe Idoni
Lot of stuff scattered on the slope.

This piece of the airframe is about two foot square.

2009-06-25T17:30:42Z

Joe Idoni
This piece of the airframe is about two foot square.

Still following the trail of wreckage down the slope.

2009-02-11T01:38:47Z

Joe Idoni
Still following the trail of wreckage down the slope.

Almost to a very large piece that I could see from further up the slope.

2009-06-25T17:41:39Z

Joe Idoni
Almost to a very large piece that I could see from further up the slope.

I know it's the tail end of the fuselage, but from this angle can't tell what I'm looking at.

2009-06-25T17:36:19Z

Joe Idoni
I know it's the tail end of the fuselage, but from this angle can't tell what I'm looking at.

Walking around I could make out the tailboom, fin and horizontal stabilizer.

2009-06-25T17:31:40Z

Joe Idoni
Walking around I could make out the tailboom, fin and horizontal stabilizer.

Looking up at the tail section.

2009-06-25T17:26:14Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the tail section.

This photo shows the section of the tail that is at the site.

2009-02-11T01:17:06Z

Joe Idoni
This photo shows the section of the tail that is at the site.

The rear section of the fuslage and tailboom.

2009-06-25T17:33:12Z

Joe Idoni
The rear section of the fuslage and tailboom.

This one was easy to identify.

2009-02-11T01:29:53Z

Joe Idoni
This one was easy to identify.

This shot shows the hinge for the folding tailboom. The tail rotor driveshaft is also visible.

2009-06-25T17:34:48Z

Joe Idoni
This shot shows the hinge for the folding tailboom. The tail rotor driveshaft is also visible.

Closer view of the tailboom hinge.

2009-02-11T01:38:55Z

Joe Idoni
Closer view of the tailboom hinge.

Photo of a CH-53E with it's tailboom and rotors folded.

2009-02-11T01:11:44Z

Joe Idoni
Photo of a CH-53E with it's tailboom and rotors folded.

Tail rotor driveshaft.

2009-06-25T17:29:20Z

Joe Idoni
Tail rotor driveshaft.

Flex plate on the driveshaft and to the right of it the drivestaft disconnect for when the boom folds.

2009-06-25T17:13:49Z

Joe Idoni
Flex plate on the driveshaft and to the right of it the drivestaft disconnect for when the boom folds.

The end of the drieshaft can be seen at the base of the fin.

2009-02-11T01:40:27Z

Joe Idoni
The end of the drieshaft can be seen at the base of the fin.

The tail rotor warning sign.

2009-06-25T17:38:51Z

Joe Idoni
The tail rotor warning sign.

The vertical fin and horizontal stabilizer.

2009-06-25T17:34:37Z

Joe Idoni
The vertical fin and horizontal stabilizer.

What remains of the the horizontal stabilizer. Looks like about half of it is missing.

2009-06-25T17:29:12Z

Joe Idoni
What remains of the the horizontal stabilizer. Looks like about half of it is missing.

Closer look at the US insignia. The leading edge is fiberglass, the trailing edge is gone.

2009-06-25T17:29:41Z

Joe Idoni
Closer look at the US insignia. The leading edge is fiberglass, the trailing edge is gone.

Me with the tail section, I can still see more pieces further down.

2009-06-25T17:30:03Z

Joe Idoni
Me with the tail section, I can still see more pieces further down.

Looking up at the rotor head from the level of the tail section.

2009-06-25T17:34:48Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the rotor head from the level of the tail section.

A large section of fuselage with one of the landing gears attached.

2009-06-25T17:33:11Z

Joe Idoni
A large section of fuselage with one of the landing gears attached.

This angle gives a better view the of the landing gear.

2009-06-25T17:38:39Z

Joe Idoni
This angle gives a better view the of the landing gear.

Tie down on the section of fuselage.

2009-06-25T17:41:44Z

Joe Idoni
Tie down on the section of fuselage.

Further down I could see another large piece.

2009-06-25T17:32:21Z

Joe Idoni
Further down I could see another large piece.

Turned out to be the loading ramp.

2009-06-25T17:37:35Z

Joe Idoni
Turned out to be the loading ramp.

Looking up at the tail from the bottom of the debris field. The wreckage was scattered for about a hundred yards down the slope. From here it's an easy hike back to the truck.

2009-02-11T01:34:43Z

Joe Idoni
Looking up at the tail from the bottom of the debris field. The wreckage was scattered for about a hundred yards down the slope. From here it's an easy hike back to the truck.

Driving back down the Santa Rosa Mountain Road. Another great site. THE END

2009-06-25T17:33:35Z

Joe Idoni
Driving back down the Santa Rosa Mountain Road. Another great site. THE END