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Teamwork, training lead to helicopter's safe recovery

Seventh Fleet

Journalist 3rd Class Robert Sealover and Journalist 3rd Class Stephen Haynes
USS Fort McHenry public affairs
Posted 02/20/2003

ABOARD USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA -- During a nerve-rattling flight quarters aboard USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) Feb. 14, crewmembers safely recovered an SH-60B helicopter experiencing engine difficulties on the dock landing ship's flight deck.

The crew conducted the emergency landing when the helicopter lost the use of one of its engines during flight operations.

"We had just dispatched them after they dropped off personnel (onboard) when the call came in that they were having engine trouble and requested emergency flight deck assistance," said Chief Signalman (SW) Allen Clayton, who was on watch as the ship's conning officer.

The call that the helicopter was experiencing engine trouble came into the ship's combat information center (CIC), and the Fort McHenry's emergency flight-deck response crew was called to their stations.

Search and rescue (SAR) swimmers and damage controlmen were on standby at their watch stations, while Sailors from the ship's deck department and CIC watch standers stood by to assist the flight crew with directions and to recover crewmembers.

"Everybody did a good job," said Chief Warrant Officer William Blackwell, who was standing watch as the tactical action officer (TAO) in CIC. "We had just stood down from flight quarters and had to get everyone back up and ready to go before the helicopter made its approach. It was all very smooth," he said.

Guided by CIC watch standers and the helicopter control tower, the pilots diverted the smoking helicopter and made the 10-mile flight back to Fort McHenry and a prepared and confident crew.

"I was nervous and scared but I was also confident that I could do it," said Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class (SW) Jason Dodge, one of Fort McHenry's landing signalman enlisted on the flight-deck crew.

"You can't panic," Dodge added. "Once the helicopter is coming in you have to get it landed and everybody out quickly."

All Sailors work in an inherently dangerous environment, but with the extensive training that Fort McHenry's flight crew continuously undergoes they are well prepared for emergencies and capable of averting disaster.

Last month, the ship's entire flight crew attended helicopter firefighting class as part of the ship's training availability in Yokosuka, Japan. The ship also conducted numerous drills involving emergency landings prior to gaining their re-certification for flight operations earlier this year.

"It was exciting to be able to put all the training that we go through to use in an actual situation," said Seaman Rebekkah Popilowski, of Fort McHenry's deck department. "After running so many drills it's nice to be able to see how the hard work comes together."

Fort McHenry is forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group.