Carson Helicopters
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace Logging |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Headquarters | Perkasie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Products | Commercial helicopters |
| Website | carsonhelicopters.com |
Carson Helicopters, Inc operates as a helicopter service provider headquartered in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, U.S., focusing on aerial lifting and firefighting operations utilizing a fleet of Sikorsky S-61 aircraft. The firm engineered the exclusive "Carson Blade" rotor system tailored for the S-61 and H-3 Sea King helicopters. In 2010, Carson collaborated with Sikorsky Aircraft to advance the S-61T model, enhancing its capabilities and market presence.
In 2015, former vice president Steve Metheny received a prison sentence for document falsification connected to a 2008 accident that caused nine fatalities. A federal jury determined that the crash was primarily due to a failure in the GE engine fuel control system, revealing operational vulnerabilities in the company’s safety and regulatory adherence record.
Founder and president Franklin Carson died on October 25, 2024.
In 2007, Carson entered into a partnership with the British Royal Navy to refurbish its HC4 Sea King helicopters. This modernization effort targeted performance limitations encountered in Afghanistan’s elevated terrain by substituting metal main rotor blades with Carson Composite Main Rotor Blades and integrating a five-bladed composite tail rotor supplied by AgustaWestland. Completed within one year under an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR), this $10.1 million initiative improved lifting capabilities and operational effectiveness while maintaining armor protection and weapon systems, thereby reinforcing Carson’s position in military helicopter enhancement contracts.
S-61T Program
In February 2010, the U.S. State Department contracted for up to 110 Sikorsky S-61 Triton helicopters ("S-61T") intended for diplomatic transport and cargo missions. The S-61T is an upgraded SH3H variant featuring a contemporary glass cockpit equipped with digital avionics, crash-resistant seating, a modular wiring harness inspired by the UH-60 Black Hawk design, along with enhanced engines and transmission systems. It also includes Carson Composite Main Rotor Blades, which increase cruising speed by 10 knots and augment lift capacity by 1,750 pounds without adding engine power.
Incidents and accidents
- On June 9, 2008, personnel from Carson Helicopters unintentionally ignited a wildfire within the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge during a tree removal operation covering 1,110 acres. The fire persisted for 111 days and incurred suppression costs exceeding $12.5 million. Under a federal contract, Carson was authorized to retain valuable cedar timber recovered as compensation for removing unusable wood.
- On August 5, 2008, a Sikorsky S-61N operated by Carson crashed during takeoff, resulting in nine deaths including pilot Roark Schwanenberg and seven firefighters. The NTSB cited power loss likely caused by engine failure as the immediate factor but primarily attributed the incident to Carson's deliberate underreporting of helicopter weight, modification of performance data charts, use of unauthorized torque information, coupled with inadequate supervision from the U.S. Forest Service and FAA. Subsequent jury findings identified failure of GE CT-58 engines as the principal cause.
- In February 2013, former VP Steven Metheny along with maintenance chief Levi Phillips faced indictments for conspiracy to defraud the United States government, mail and wire fraud, false statements made to the Forest Service, and compromising aircraft safety. Metheny was additionally charged with embezzling corporate funds for private benefit. The NTSB investigation uncovered deliberate misconduct by Carson in bid documentation tied to contracts valued at $20 million.
- In September 2013, Levi Phillips entered a guilty plea on fraud charges and agreed to cooperate with authorities in prosecuting Metheny.
- In June 2015, Metheny received a prison sentence exceeding twelve years due to falsification of documents linked to the fatal crash.
These events profoundly affected Carson Helicopters’ corporate reputation and highlighted significant deficiencies in governance and regulatory compliance within its operational framework.