Navy Helicopter Crashes in James River; Three Men Rescued

June 15--The Navy is investigating what caused an MH-60S helicopter to crash in the James River Tuesday during training. The three-man crew was not seriously injured.

The crash happened about 11 a.m. near the James River Bridge about 3 miles from shore, said Newport News police spokeswoman Jamie Bastas.

The crew was first rescued by a fishing boat, said Stephen Pincus, a spokesman for the Newport News Fire Department. They were transferred to a police boat and then a fire boat before being taken ashore, he said.

A small crowd of beach-goers applauded the crew as they were brought to an ambulance.

Harley Owen, a lifeguard on duty at Huntington Beach Park, said she didn't notice the helicopter go down, but heard sirens coming. Once emergency personnel arrived, she said the lifeguards were asked to help keep beach visitors away from the boat ramp.

The helicopter is assigned to Helicopter Sea Squadron Two based at Naval Station Norfolk. It is designated as the Helicopter Fleet Replacement Squadron, which trains crews to fly and operate the aircraft.

The Navy will convene a mishap investigation board to determine what caused the cash, said Mike Maus, a spokesman for Naval Air Force Atlantic. He said the crew was on a routine training mission when the crash occurred. All three crew members were transported to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.

This crash comes on the heels of two high-profile crashes involving Navy fighter jets.

On May 26, four naval aviators based in Virginia Beach were pulled from the Atlantic Ocean with minor injuries after two aircraft crashed during a training exercise off the North Carolina coast. The accident was described as a "in-flight mishap" involving two F/A-18F Super Hornets assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 211 based at Naval Air Station Oceana.

On June 2, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, a member of the Blue Angels precision flying team, was killed in a crash while practicing for an air show in Tennessee.

Several agencies responded to the James River crash, according to Pincus. He said the agencies have trained together and were well-prepared for the incident.

Hazardous materials teams were called to the site to contain any possible fuel leakage and to maintain a perimeter to help other boats avoid the wreckage.

The MH-60S and the MH-60R are workhorses of the Navy helicopter fleet, supporting a variety of ships and missions. The Navy is embarking on a plan to extend the life of these aging airframes until it can field a replacement, probably around 2035.

The Navy will issue a contract later this year to assess the service life of the MH-60S, according to Capt. Craig Grubb, who addressed the issue during the Sea-Air-Space Symposium in May at National Harbor, Md.. The assessment will allow the Navy to determine exactly what sections of the aircraft need attention. The timetable for the MH-60R is about two years behind its counterpart, Grubb said.

The MH-60S was introduced in 2001. Maus said he did not know the age of the aircraft that crashed into the James.

Lessig can be reached by phone at 757-247-7821.

Copyright 2016 - Daily Press (Newport News, Va.)