rotornut
22nd Apr 2010, 12:44
Crew safe!
U.S. Coast Guard to investigate helicopter crash in Lake Huron
by Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News
U.S. Coast Guard officials said today it could be weeks before they know what caused a rescue helicopter conducting a nighttime training exercise to crash into southern Lake Huron Tuesday.
The three-member crew escaped with only bumps and bruises after the helicopter crashed around 9:45 p.m. about nine miles north of Port Huron.
The Coast Guardsmen, who were conducting hoist training, were picked up by the crew of a Coast Guard boat, said Chief Robert Lanier of the Ninth Coast Guard District public affairs office.
The HH-65C's pilot was identified as 39-year-old Lt. Vincent Bukowski of Chicago. Twenty-seven-year-old Lt. Tasha Hood of Bell County, Texas, was co-pilot, and 24-year-old Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Samuel Downie of Tyler, Texas, was flight mechanic.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit has established a safety zone around the location of the helicopter. A salvage operation is scheduled to begin this afternoon.
Lanier said the crew was conducting several scenarios and was on the third or fourth hoist when the incident occurred. The boat crew was able to rescue them before the helicopter was submerged, he said.
"Unfortunately, we lose a helicopter frame, but the silver lining is everybody was recovered safely with just minor bumps and bruises," Lanier said. "The resulting outcome of them going home safe is good."
Due to the ongoing investigation, officials say the air crew will not be available for comment. Lanier said the three have not yet been interviewed about the crash.
Officials are expected to interview the boat and helicopter crews and evaluate the helicopter, any radio transmissions and electronic gauges to pinpoint the cause.
"We'll look at all aspects... to determine the best possible scenario of what occurred and how we prevent that from happening again," Lanier said.
It is unknown at this time how high the helicopter was flying and the speed of impact when the crash occurred, Lanier said. Investigators are also unsure about when or if the crew knew they were in danger, he said.
From The Detroit News: U.S. Coast Guard to investigate helicopter crash in Lake Huron | detnews.com | The Detroit News (http://detnews.com/article/20100421/METRO/4210390/-1/ARCHIVE/U.S.-Coast-Guard-to-investigate-helicopter-crash-in-Lake-Huron#ixzz0lriyO1Js)
U.S. Coast Guard to investigate helicopter crash in Lake Huron
by Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News
U.S. Coast Guard officials said today it could be weeks before they know what caused a rescue helicopter conducting a nighttime training exercise to crash into southern Lake Huron Tuesday.
The three-member crew escaped with only bumps and bruises after the helicopter crashed around 9:45 p.m. about nine miles north of Port Huron.
The Coast Guardsmen, who were conducting hoist training, were picked up by the crew of a Coast Guard boat, said Chief Robert Lanier of the Ninth Coast Guard District public affairs office.
The HH-65C's pilot was identified as 39-year-old Lt. Vincent Bukowski of Chicago. Twenty-seven-year-old Lt. Tasha Hood of Bell County, Texas, was co-pilot, and 24-year-old Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Samuel Downie of Tyler, Texas, was flight mechanic.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit has established a safety zone around the location of the helicopter. A salvage operation is scheduled to begin this afternoon.
Lanier said the crew was conducting several scenarios and was on the third or fourth hoist when the incident occurred. The boat crew was able to rescue them before the helicopter was submerged, he said.
"Unfortunately, we lose a helicopter frame, but the silver lining is everybody was recovered safely with just minor bumps and bruises," Lanier said. "The resulting outcome of them going home safe is good."
Due to the ongoing investigation, officials say the air crew will not be available for comment. Lanier said the three have not yet been interviewed about the crash.
Officials are expected to interview the boat and helicopter crews and evaluate the helicopter, any radio transmissions and electronic gauges to pinpoint the cause.
"We'll look at all aspects... to determine the best possible scenario of what occurred and how we prevent that from happening again," Lanier said.
It is unknown at this time how high the helicopter was flying and the speed of impact when the crash occurred, Lanier said. Investigators are also unsure about when or if the crew knew they were in danger, he said.
From The Detroit News: U.S. Coast Guard to investigate helicopter crash in Lake Huron | detnews.com | The Detroit News (http://detnews.com/article/20100421/METRO/4210390/-1/ARCHIVE/U.S.-Coast-Guard-to-investigate-helicopter-crash-in-Lake-Huron#ixzz0lriyO1Js)