DATE: Saturday, March 15, 1997              TAG: 9703150299

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   50 lines

NAVY CHOPPER CRASHES; 4 MISSING FLORIDA-BASED SEAHAWK IS LOST OFF NORTH CAROLINA

A Navy helicopter trying to refuel from a warship crashed within sight of the ship in rough seas and night-time blackness off the North Carolina coast Thursday. All four aboard were still missing late Friday.

The crash of the Florida-based Seahawk helicopter occurred about 11:30 p.m., as the aircraft made a single pass across the stern of the guided-missile frigate Jesse L. Taylor, preparing to land on its stern helicopter platform, officials said.

``From what I understand it was actually in the process of conducting a refueling evolution,'' said Pat Dooling, a spokesman for the Jacksonville, Fla., Naval Air Station where the helicopter was based.

It was not believed to have been actually taking on fuel at the time of the crash, but was preparing to, according to Dooling.

The accident happened about 80 miles off the North Carolina coast in the midst of strong winds that had whipped the seas to 8-foot waves.

Search efforts were launched immediately by the Mayport, Fla.-based Taylor. Other ships and aircraft in the vicinity also were assisting. Coast Guard ships joined the search Friday morning.

The helicopter, which was carrying two pilots and two aircrew members, was assigned to the carrier John F. Kennedy, also based in Mayport.

The ships and aircraft were part of a large Navy and Marine Corps exercise off the Carolinas, which will continue through the month. The exercise is designed to help prepare the Kennedy and its battle group for its upcoming deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

The H-60 series of helicopters is used by the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard in a variety of missions, among them search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare, cargo and passenger delivery, commando operations and ground-troop support.

Those used by the Navy for anti-submarine warfare are assigned to all carrier air wings.

A similar helicopter crashed in the Persian Gulf last Oct. 25, killing three crew members aboard. That chopper was a model designed to transport SEAL commandos, one of whom - a sailor based at Norfolk's Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base - died in the accident.

The names of the crew members of the latest accident and the exact model of the helicopter, were being withheld until relatives are notified, naval officials said. ILLUSTRATION: Seahawk KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT PLANE HELICOPTERS ACCIDENT MILITARY

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