THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996 TAG: 9608210997
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 47 lines
A Norfolk-based helicopter pilot has been credited with saving 11 people aboard his crippled Navy chopper by keeping the 12-ton aircraft afloat for nearly 20 minutes after engine trouble forced it into the Mediterranean Sea.
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Goodrow, assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 6, ditched the CH-46 Sea Knight, then stayed in his seat, repeatedly trying to restart the engine, until the helicopter filled with water, rolled over and sank Aug. 14.
By that time, the chopper's passengers and crew had escaped and swum to safety.
The accident came shortly after Goodrow took off from the Norfolk-based fast combat support ship Supply, which is on deployment with the Enterprise battle group.
The helicopter, operated by a crew of four, was carrying seven sailors from the submarine Pittsburgh to the submarine tender Simon Lake when one of its two engines failed.
A second engine provided partial lift, but was unable to keep the aircraft aloft.
Goodrow made a controlled landing about 40 miles southwest of Greece, in the Ionian Sea, then apparently kept enough power on the other engine to keep the helicopter afloat.
``He spent about 20 minutes trying to get it restarted and was going to attempt a water take-off,'' said Mike Maus, a Navy spokesman in Norfolk. ``It was enough time to allow the crew to get everybody out and to get the HEFS (Helicopter Emergency Flotation System) deployed.''
Goodrow had dumped fuel to lighten the load, deployed the flotation devices and used emergency throttle to keep the helicopter floating, Maus said.
When the passengers and crew were clear of the area, he taxied the helicopter away and attempted again to get airborne. By then the aircraft was filling with water.
``The guy deserves a medal,'' Maus said.
There were no significant injuries, officials said. Small boats from the Supply were able to pick up and return the crew and passengers to the ship.
The Sea Knight is used for hauling cargo and as many as 25 passengers. The workhorse of the Navy's helicopter fleet, it has been in service since 1961 and is a frequent sight over Hampton Roads.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT by CNB