BY LT NICOLAS PARSONS, HSM-37
T
hree months into the USS MICHAEL MURPHY (DDG 112) maiden deployment, the embarked helicopter detachment from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron THREE SEVEN (HSM-37) experienced a potentially catastrophic RAST (recovery, assist, secure, and traverse) casualty. The HSM-37’s Detachment FOUR “Warhogs,” first MH-60R Detachment, had been conducting daily flight evolutions in support of Pacific Presence Operations in the South China Sea.
Rogue? At approximately 1 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2015, after obtaining amber deck, the landing safety officer (LSO) and flight deck crew began traversing Easyrider 41 out of the hangar to prepare for flight operations. As Easyrider 41 approached the maintenance line, the aircraft suddenly changed direction and began rolling forward toward the port hangar. The LSO was unable to affect any control through his console, which reflected normal indications. The traversing crew called for “brakes” as the 22,000 pound MH-60R quickly gained momentum, rolling down the sloped flight deck of the DDG FLT IIA. The brake-rider, an aviation electronics technician, was able to stop the aircraft with the tail wheel at the threshold of the hangar door. The flight deck director immediately called for chocks and chains and the aircraft was secured. After making sure no personnel had been injured by the rogue aircraft, the crew began to investigate the cause of the invol-
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SORRY NOT TODAY
untary movement, which soon became clear. On RAST capable ships such as the USS MICHAEL MURPHY, the aircraft is secured to the deck through the use of a rapid securing device (RSD). This RSD is also used to traverse the aircraft into and out of the hangar. As Easyrider 41 approached the maintenance line, the aft cable used to move the RSD severed and the aircraft began to roll towards the hangar. Although a potentially catastrophic situation had been avoided, the aircraft was still in a precarious position with the
Sailors with HSM-37 Detatchment FOUR attempt to move a MH-60R after an RSD cable break on January 13, 2015 aboard the USS MICHAEL MURPHY (DDG 112) somewhere near the South China Sea. (Photos courtesy LT Nicholas Parsons)
Approach-MECH
