I missed this thread last year, but this post got my attention ;)

The Merc Enterprise went down off Plymouth in a Force 8 early 1974 (IIRC), and we (824) sent one Sea King, and the International Training Unit sent a German SAR machine. This was before the intake screens were fitted, and both machines had significant salt build up on the IGV's which wasn't apparent until 5-6 hours later, when they were nearly back at Culdrose.

Dave Mallock was flying the German SK, and had wildly fluctuating torques crossing the coast, eventually doing a night auto into a field near Predannack. He reckoned that he saw 30 degrees bank on the AH, as they slid through the mud of a ploughed paddock, before stopping upright :eek:

824 SK was on finals to CU with similar fluctuations, and turned back to cover the German machine when Malarky Jim put out his Mayday. Tony, the Australian pilot, decided discretion was the better part when it became apparent that Dave was safe, and he then put down near the local pub and waited for ground transport home :ok:

AFC's to both of them, well deserved. The German SK was eventually airlifted out by a Skycrane, the 824 machine was comp washed and flown home.

And that's one reason why you keep well away from excessive exposure to salt spray when winching :=