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Spc. Eric W. Speegle, a UH-60 helicopter hepairer for Delta Company, 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, attaches a crane hook to a helicopter blade May 18, 2015 in an unoccupied field near Plankenfels, Germany, becaus...
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Capt. Richard M. Lofthouse, the company commander for Delta Company, 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, directs and communicates with the pilots in the CH-47 (Chinook) Helicopter May 18, 2015 in an unoccupied field ne...
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In the late morning of 15 May 2015, during a routine training flight, an aircrew from 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, flying a UH-60L Blackhawk, made a precautionary landing in a field approximately 35 km east of B...
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In the late morning of 15 May 2015, during a routine training flight, an aircrew from 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, flying a UH-60L Blackhawk, made a precautionary landing in a field approximately 35 km east of B...
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In the late morning of 15 May 2015, during a routine training flight, an aircrew from 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, flying a UH-60L Blackhawk, made a precautionary landing in a field approximately 35 km east of B...
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In the late morning of 15 May 2015, during a routine training flight, an aircrew from 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, flying a UH-60L Blackhawk, made a precautionary landing in a field approximately 35 km east of B...
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In the late morning of 15 May 2015, during a routine training flight, an aircrew from 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, flying a UH-60L Blackhawk, made a precautionary landing in a field approximately 35 km east of B...
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In the late morning of 15 May 2015, during a routine training flight, an aircrew from 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, flying a UH-60L Blackhawk, made a precautionary landing in a field approximately 35 km east of B...
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KATTERBACH, Germany -- In the late morning of 15 May 2015, during a routine training flight, an aircrew from 3-158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, flying a UH-60L Blackhawk, made a precautionary landing in a field approximately 35 km east of Bamberg, Germany.The crew experienced a "blade strike" with wires, necessitating an immediate controlled landing of the aircraft.
The UH-60L pilots were flying an approved flight plan in a training area authorized for low-level flight.The U.S. Army is continuing to investigate the incident.
Thankfully, the pilots safely landed the aircraft in an unoccupied field north of the village of Plankenfels with no injuries to any of the four crew members on board.
U.S. Army safety and maintenance personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene to assess damage to the helicopter.Throughout the weekend, 12th CAB personnel worked closely with U.S. Army authorities and local German Polizei to ensure proper security of the landing site and determine the best option for recovering the aircraft.
After evaluating all available recovery options, it was determined that the safest way to recover the aircraft would be by heavy load external lift via CH-47 Chinook. This method would minimize damage to the site and be a great training opportunity for a task aircrews can reasonably expect to accomplish during routine operations.
On the morning of 18 May 2015, Soldiers from the 12th CAB attached the damaged UH-60L via sling to a CH-47.The aircraft was flown to Grafenwoehr Army Airfield for further evaluation and repairs. The recovery operation was conducted safely and complete before 3:00 PM local time.
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