MH-53E Crew Survives Helicopter Mishap
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050126-01
Release Date: 1/26/2005 7:07:00 AM
From Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs
NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- An MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter of the Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14 Vanguards went down during a routine training mission in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 25 approximately 28 miles off the coast of Virginia at approximately 3 p.m. with eight people aboard. All eight have been rescued and are being transported by two MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters to Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. Their conditions are unknown.
The U.S. Coast Guard also supported the rescue with two C-130 Hercules and one HH-60 Jayhawk by providing initial on scene rescue coordination.
The amphibious assault ship, USS Bataan (LHD 5), and the amphibious transport dock ship, USS Trenton (LPD 14), were in the vicinity and also responded to assist. They were 16 and 14 miles away, respectively.
The cause of the incident is unknown and the Navy will conduct an investigation. The names of those involved are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
HM-14 operates and maintains the MH-53E Sea Dragon, the largest helicopter in the free world. The MH-53E has a seven blade main rotor and a four blade tail rotor designed for land and ship based operations. Sea Dragon is capable of carrying up to 55 troops or a 16-ton payload 50 nautical miles, or a 10-ton payload 500 nautical miles. The primary mission of the MH-53E is airborne mine countermeasures, which includes mine sweeping, mine neutralization, mine hunting, floating mine destruction, channel marking, and surface towing.
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