2 MH-60R crews grounded for Tahoe dip

[maddog65]

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/09/n ... g-092410w/

2 MH-60R crews grounded for Tahoe dip

By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Sep 26, 2010 8:32:12 EDT

The Navy grounded two MH-60R aircrews with a Coronado, Calif., squadron after their helicopters sustained damage when they dipped into Lake Tahoe on Sept. 13, Naval Air Forces said Friday.

An aviation mishap board is looking into the incident, which happened when the crews with Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 “were on a return leg of a cross country training flight,” said Lt. Aaron Kakiel, an AirFor spokesman at North Island Naval Air Station. The crews had participated in an air show at Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif., which held the California Capital Air Show on Sept. 11-12.

The newer helicopters sustained damage, ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, in the Class “C” mishap “when they attempted to enter into a hover. When they did, they ended up settling with power,” Kakiel said. “Both aircraft were able to regain their airspeed and altitude” and landed at nearby Lake Tahoe airport.

The HSM-41 crews inspected the damage and reported it to the squadron, which sent replacement crews to repair and fly the helicopters home. “All of the people who were involved in the aircraft mishap are temporarily grounded,” he said.

Kakiel said the mishap board is looking into details of the flight and incident, and it will make any recommendations for administrative action or punishment to the Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing based at North Island.

A 20-second video clip of the incident was posted on the social media site YouTube on Sept. 14.

[Kurosaki]

Wow...I was just there boating around a couple months ago...wish I had seen that live. Lucky boys.

[HorusJ]

Our tax dollars at work. . .*#%@%*@
WTF!

[ricktk]

Navy Crews Face Discipline For Lake Tahoe Heli-Dunking

The crews of two Navy helicopters that suffered $500,000 in damage and became YouTube sensations when they were accidentally dunked in Lake Tahoe in September are facing consequences, the Navy said Wednesday. The two MH-60R "Romeo" Helicopters from the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 based at NAS North Island, San Diego, were returning from an airshow at Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento when they flew over the lake, which is not a normal naval training area. According to early reports, the Navy's investigation found the inadvertent dunking "was entirely preventable" and "lack of flight discipline and lack of command oversight" contributed to the accident. So far, the crews reportedly will not face "punitive" action, "but specific administrative measures" will be applied, according to the LA Times. And, for some of the crew, those measures may be extensive.

The Navy has not specified the exact nature of administrative measures to be taken against members of either helicopter's crew; more details may follow. The crews, which included instructor pilots and two other pilots, were immediately grounded following the incident. After repair, the aircraft were flown back to North Island by different crews. Retraining has been ordered for the younger pilots and the instructor pilots lost their flying status, according to a report by the San Diego Union-Tribune that had not been confirmed by the Navy.
As quoted on www/avweb.com dtd12/23/10

[MIKE JG]

They should have to pay for the damage. That would be punishment enough.