By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer
Soldiers walking shoulder-to-shoulder this morning will conduct a final search of the Kahuku site where six were killed and 11 injured in the crash landings of two Army Black Hawk helicopters Feb. 12.
Army safety investigators have found nothing so far to indicate there is any need for changes in equipment, training or standard operations, a spokeswoman said yesterday.
Maj. Nancy Makowski, public affairs officer for the 25th Infantry Division (Light), said Black Hawk helicopter operations and training are continuing as usual. But it will probably take about two weeks before the safety team can report early findings to the Schofield command, and another eight months to finish the final written report on the crash.
While the safety team’s sole purpose is to learn how to prevent another crash, a second investigation — known as a "collateral" investigation — is being conducted to determine responsibility and any liability for the crashes, Makowski said.
Of the two helicopters, the one in which the six soldiers died was removed from the Kahuku Military Training Area and taken by truck yesterday to a hangar at Wheeler Army Air Field. The other chopper, in which 11 were wounded, was removed from the crash site Wednesday.
Makowski said it appeared that the helicopters somehow made contact as they were attempting to land. But she said it was not clear if the contact was between the aircraft themselves or with either of the loads they were carrying.
Standard operating procedure for such helicopters flying in formation is that they come no closer than three "rotor disks," the diameter of the rotor blades, from one another, according to Maj. Cynthia Teramae, chief of media relations for the division. For the Black Hawks, the distance of three rotor disks works out to 170 feet.
Investigators yesterday took another close look at the "sling-load" rigging used by one chopper to transport a Humvee vehicle. They also examined the rigging for the other helicopter’s load of dummy ammunition.
One crew member of the chopper carrying the dummy ammunition has told reporters that it appeared that the rotor of his chopper hit the sling-loaded Humvee or the rigging by which it dangled under the other helicopter.
All but one of the injured have been released from the hospital.
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