November 20, 1952 the USMC Sikorsky HRS-2 BuNo 129049 crashed during the recovery of microwave transmission equipment from a mountain top in the Mojave National Preserve. The accident happened as the pilot was attempting to land on the peak, but came up short due to heavy winds and downdrafts. The tail rotor struck a tree and rocks and was broken off causing the pilot to lose control. After crashing to the ground, the helicopter rolled about three hundred feet down the slope before coming to rest on it's left side. Luckily pilot Maj. Dwain Lengel, co-pilot Capt. Gaylord Drutknecht and the two passengers weren't injured in the accident. The HRS-2 was fairly intact and did not burn after the accident, but due to it's remote location the military decided to blow it up instead of attempting the difficult recovery. The HRS-2 was one of two US Marine Corp heavy duty helicopters provided from the Squadron 363 of the 36th stationed at El Toro, California. The microwave equipment was installed on four peaks by the Los Angeles television station KTLA to relay the first telecast of an atomic bomb blast from the Nevada test site seven months earlier on 4/22/52.

This photo taken after the accident shows the condition of the helicopter before the it was blown up by the military.

Driving in the Mojave National Preserve. About a year ago I saw a post about a group of folks that visited this site, looked interesting so put on my to do list. I was given it's location, but somehow I misplaced the information. I remembered where the hike started and had a good idea which area the crash site was located in.

This is where to road turned to 4X4. Knew where I wanted to go, but wasn't sure that this was the right way to get there.

The truck parked in a clearing at the top of the road which drops off to the left. The drive was a little nerve racking, felt good to get out of the truck and start hiking.

On the hike, I passed by a few prickly pear cactus. Took the time to snack on one of these before hiking on.

When I got into the area I thought the crash site might be located, used binoculars to look around. Spot something in the trees over a hundred yards away.

Zoomed in on what turned out to be a piece of wreckage from the HRS-2. It's color made it hard to see from a distance, the straight line caused by it's shadow is what caught my eye.

Just after taking the previous photo, I looked up to see a few deer running up the slope.

This is the first piece of wreckage I came upon as I approached the crash site.

Better view of the same part. This is the remains of one of the landing light housings.

This looks like a brace.

No idea what this part is.

Found another one that was a little different.

And one more.

The remains of the oil tank.

Another view of the oil tank.

This three foot long piece is from one of the clam shell nose doors which covered the Pratt and Whitney engine. The round port is for engine's exhaust pipe.

The other side of the same piece.

A piece from one of the main rotor blades. This is from the tip.

Another view of the same piece of rotor blade.

The other side gives a better view of the damage. It was interesting to see how the blade was constructed. The tailing edge is made up from many individual sections that were glued to the leading edge.

The yellow paint can still be seen on the blade's tip.

End view of the leading edge on the same blade showing it's construction. It made from aluminum.

This seven foot long piece is from the bottom side of tail boom.

The other side of the same piece showing the external stringer.

The area the HRS-2 burned after being blown up by the military.

The burn area from above.

Think that this is part of the conduit for the engine ignition wires.

Looks like some type of linkage.

These two six inch long shafts have ball bearings, no idea where they are from.

This linkage has two universal joints on the shaft.

Valve rocker and a piece from a valve pushrod. I would have thought that the engine had been recovered, but it appears that it was blown up with the helicopter.

This aluminum tube is about two and a half inches in diameter. Was thinking that it was one of the engine's intake tubes, but it doesn't look right.

Lot of stuff on the lower edge of the burn area.

Think this is the filler opening from one of the fuel tanks.

Piece of fuselage skin and stringer.

Melted aluminum.

Another rocker, this one is attached to a piece of one of the heads.

Electrical component.

Cage from a ball bearing, one of the balls remains.

Looks like this might be some type of filter, it's about three inches in diameter.

One set of the tail rotor pedals.

Engine valve spring.

Two rod ends, the aluminum rods have melted away.

Electrical connector and wires.

I've seen safety pins like these on fire extinguishers, but not sure if that is what this one is from.

This steel part is about twelve inches square, guessing that it might be from the engine compartment.