Tue, Dec 28, 2010
Navy Cites Poor Decision-Making On The Part Of Aircraft
Commanders
The command investigation into the inadvertent water landings at
Lake Tahoe in September 2010 of two helicopters assigned to
Maritime Strike Helicopter Squadron (HSM) 41 was completed Dec. 20.
The investigation found that the mishap was entirely preventable
had the aircrew followed required directives for conducting
cross-country flights and applied more vigilant operational risk
management.
Navy Helicopters Over Lake Tahoe YouTube Frame
Capture
No punitive actions are warranted as a result of the
investigation, but specific administrative measures are in progress
for the aircrew and squadron to prevent a similar incident in the
future.
The investigation identified the decision of the aircraft
commanders to conduct hovers over Lake Tahoe without completing the
necessary engine performance calculations as the causal factor for
the mishap. The report also identified several contributing
factors, including the aircrew's complacency, lack of
flight discipline and lack of command oversight in planning and
executing cross-country flights.
The incident occurred Sept. 13 when two MH-60R helicopters
assigned to HSM-41 on the return leg of a cross-country training
flight inadvertently settled into the water while attempting
unplanned hovers over Lake Tahoe. Both aircraft regained sufficient
power to resume flight and safely landed at Lake Tahoe Airport. No
one was injured in the incident, and both aircraft were repaired
and safely returned to Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.,
Sept. 16. The cost of repairs for both aircraft totaled
$505,751.20.
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