1 dead after Navy helicopter crash off Va. Beach

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, Hampton Roads dot com

The Virginian-Pilot
© January 8, 2014

VIRGINIA BEACH

One crew member has died and the Coast Guard, Navy and the Virginia Beach Fire Department are continuing to search for another who was aboard a Navy helicopter that made an emergency landing in the Atlantic this morning about 18 nautical miles east of Cape Henry.

Four of the five crew members were rescued, and Navy spokesman Cmdr. Mike Kafka said they were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. The conditions of the remaining three sailors was unclear, but they were being evaluated at the hospital, the Navy said.

Navy officials said they would not release any details about the crew member who died until 24 hours after relatives are notified.

Kafka said two MH-53 Sea Dragons belonging to the HM-14, a helicopter squadron based at Norfolk Naval Station, were on a training mission. One of the helicopters had to make an emergency landing into the water at approximately 11 a.m.


Read more: http://hamptonroads.com/2014/01/navy-helicopter-goes-down-va-beach-coast

[TwilightGardener]

1. Sad--two helo crashes in two days, five dead.

[MADem]

2. Unrelated, but there was a crash of a USAF helo out of Lakenheath in UK the other day.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/video_four_lakenheath_pave_hawk_air_crew_die_in_helicopter_crash_in_norfolk_1_3182511

Maybe time for a DOD-wide stand down?

[bluedigger]

3. Different aircraft, different services.

No point to a DOD stand down.

[MADem]

4. I said "unrelated..." but ya never know.

Sometimes it's fatigue due to OPTEMPO, other times, mechanical, other times, just sheer inattentiveness. Nothing wrong with stopping and checking. We've got five servicemembers dead in two accidents and bad injuries to boot.

When was the last time all services have done a safety stand down? It's been awhile.

We're dumping forty thousand from the Army alone in the next year or two, now's as good a time as any to reset the focus. We're coming off a war footing, and priorities will change as that happens.

[bluedigger]

5. I just don't think it's warranted.

I'm pretty sure the DOD has the largest helicopter fleet in the world (and the most experience in their use). It's very regrettable that two have gone down with loss of life in such a short time span, but not overly alarming in context. Different air frames, services, missions, weather, geographic area - sometimes a coincidence is just a coincidence. DOD does a pretty good job determining the causes of aircraft losses in their own self-interest and if a common factor presents itself I'm sure they will address it. The military is a dangerous occupation in war and peace, and accepting the risk is part of the deal for those who go in harm's way.

I do like your idea of a safety stand down, though. For everybody, even if just for couple of days. Staggered, of course. When I was in Germany in the '80's we lost dozens of troops annually in vehicle accidents. You don't hear about those losses, because duece and a half's aren't newsworthy, like helicopters, but a command directed focus on safety would be a great idea.

[MADem]

6. I think we're overdue for one--we used to do them fairly frequently.

I could be wrong (out of the loop, now) but I just haven't heard of them doing one in recent years, whereas in years past they were done every few years, need 'em or not.