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Old 22nd November 2013 | 13:05
  #18 (permalink)  
SASless
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From: Downeast
I guess one such dropped load might qualify.

A brand new UH-1H Command and Control Radio equipped Huey had a hydraulics failure....less than 25 flight hours on the aircraft since new. We were tasked to sling it back to Chu Lai from LZ Baldy. Per our standard procedure we routed out over the South China Sea cruising south at 3,000 feet.

All was normal until we felt a sudden bump....and the FE say rather excitedly...."Aw !!!!!".

We circled around and watched a Huey set a speed record straight down into the ocean with a huge splash at the end of the descent.

Fortunately for us we were able to retain the remains of the Strop (provided by the Huey Unit) that had snapped.

Such a shame really....and reminds you that anything that gets hauled by sling load under a Helicopter should be expendable....as bad things do happen every now and then.
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