Helicopter Dip in Lake Tahoe Is Under Investigation by Navy

[Menemeth]

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — Military officials said an investigation was under way after two Navy helicopters dipped temporarily into the waters of Lake Tahoe, before righting themselves and landing at a nearby airport.



Lt. Aaron Kakiel, a spokesman for the San Diego-based Naval Air Forces, said a YouTube posting filmed by tourists represents authentic video of the Sept. 13 episode, a newspaper, The Nevada Appeal, reported.

Lieutenant Kakiel said two pilots were returning from a cross-country tour when they attempted a “hover” maneuver with MH-60 Romeo helicopters a few feet above the water in Emerald Bay. The aircraft did not have enough power to sustain the hover and slowly descended into the water, he said. Both were able to regain altitude and land.

The helicopters suffered some damage, but no one was injured and no fuel leaked into the lake, Lieutenant Kakiel said.

He said the pilots had been grounded until the Navy completes an aviation mishap board investigation. They could face administrative action and lose their flying qualifications, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The helicopters — each worth $33 million, according to a Navy Web site — were repaired at the Lake Tahoe airport and returned to San Diego on Sept. 16. A different set of pilots flew the aircraft home, Lieutenant Kakiel said.

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[RyanbATC]

Huh.... interesting!

[Awwsky]

The one chopper didn't look like it was hovering really, but that pilot was extremely lucky to get out of that situation. Willing to be they lose their flight certification for not following procedure!!

[dannygregory1234]

hang on...

"the aircraft did not have enough power to hover?"

im pretty sure that having enough power to hover is a pre-requisite in helicopter design!!

[Menemeth]

hang on...

"the aircraft did not have enough power to hover?"
im pretty sure that having enough power to hover is a pre-requisite in helicopter design!!

You're forgetting about Ground Effects. Lake Tahoe’s surface elevation is 6,225 ft. Supposing a 83° day, 29.25 Hg, 56% RH, 65° DP, that puts the density altitude at 10,189 ft. Sikorsky shows the MH-60R HOGE to be 9,945 ft. Now I know there’s more to concider (GW, ROD, loss of HIGE before translational lift, etc.). In any event, my point being density altitude could have played a part.