“Hard Landing” kills one at Hunter AAF
The Associated Press reports that one crew member died when a Black Hawk of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment had a “hard landing” at their station, Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA;
“They were on final approach,” [Army Maj. Allen Hill, a spokesman for the crew’s aviation unit] said. “Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.”
Hill said he did not know how badly the helicopter was damaged or if it landed on the tarmac or in the grass. Local television news footage taken from a distance showed the aircraft leaning to one side near the base’s runway.
Though the helicopter hit the ground with enough force to kill and injure crew members, Hill insisted the aircraft had not crashed.
“The difference is in a hard landing the pilot had more control, as opposed to a crash which would have been something more severe,” Hill said.
Two other members of the crew were injured, but names haven’t been released yet pending notification of families.
A lot of aircraft have been affected by particularly harsh gravity lately, but I’m sure it has nothing to do with budget and training cuts. It’s only a coincidence. And a reminder that training kills.
Category: Breaking News
Even a good, controlled autorotation landing can cause injuries and death.
Damn.
Budget and training cuts rarely affect the 160th.
bummer,,i witnessed a copper,chopper do an autorotate in Hawaii back in the late 70’s,,broke both LEO’S back on impact.(it was one of those old Bell copters)
The “routine training mission” strikes again.
Was stationed at Hunter AAF in the the 80’s. Some news reports are refering to it an airstrip. It is a former Air Force SAC Base built to handle nuclear bombers. The main runway is over 11,000 feet and it has vast acres of concrete hardstand. It was big enough to be designated an emergency landing site for the Space Shuttle.
In an 18 month period from December 1977 to July 1979. NAS Brunswick lost 3 P-3 Orions with all aboard. They had lost another one earlier in 1976, again with all aboard.
2 of those killed were guys I flew with, and considered great friends. Even in the Cold War, there were casualties.
I wish those who haven’t ever served would take a minute or three sometime to understand how dangerous the profession of arms is, even in “peacetime”.
Sadly I know the person who died. I grew up with them. The parents found out a couple hours ago.
@5: I was there in the early/mid 80’s myself. I remember when one of our support units lost a crew chief, that I knew, when a bird went down. Plus, the Air Force lost a couple of observer pilots when their bird went down on an exercise we were doing with the Air Force at Ft. Stewart. Training can be every bit as dangerous when you train like you fight.
As I understand, the 160th are the “Night Stalkers”. The best of the best pilots, crews and they support the best. I have flown with them, a few times in 1991. Nothing secret squirrellish … But still exciting enough for this black shoe.
So, they fly, train and operate pushing the envelope in ev erything they do. We should recognize that this business is a hazardous one.
Thank God we have such men to do these great things and make such sacrifices for us.