Last week, an internet site, whose name I have decided to withhold (for the safety of minors on this forum), published a set of 23 very graphic digital photos taken minutes after a tragic accident aboard a US Navy frigate, in which a crew member operating on the helicoper deck was decapitated by an SH-60 Seahawk helicopter.
The man was killed instantly when the helicopter landed, causing severe damage to one of the four main rotor blades, but not harming the aircraft crew. I believe he was making hand-signals to the air crew, standing about 9-12 feet in front of the helicopter (within its rotor arc)
As I am not well versed in deck helicopter operations, can someone better versed please explain to me why such an accident would happen, assuming the weather conditions were not adverse, and the helicopters rotors were prevented mechanically (assuming they are) from dipping forward while the aircraft lay flat and stationary on the deck.
Please remember that all of the above info is assumed, and contributed from the forum on the above website. The address of the website will only be provided on request from those who are obviously adults.
Launch at Twilight – “Thermal Crossover”
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January 10, 2003 at 9:33 pm