'Rising from the Sand'

The accident in Iraq involved two HH-60H aircraft engaged in night operations supporting the joint special operations command headquartered at Balad. One aircraft was on the ground turning when a second aircraft came in too close and clipped the tail pylon of the first aircraft with its main rotors.

Only after sunrise could an initial assessment of the damage be established. The "stationary" aircraft sustained extensive tail pylon damage that would require a total replacement.

The inspection team had to wait until daylight to conduct a thorough evaluation of the damaged HH-60H Seahawk helicopters.

The "taxiing" aircraft also sustained extensive damage after it came to rest on its right side. The right landing gear and associated support structure either snapped off or collapsed into the lower fuselage. The aft weapons pylon, as well as the right horizontal stabilizer of the tail pylon was also damaged when the aircraft came to rest on its right side.

A depot-level inspection of the aircraft would be required to determine whether it could be salvaged - And that's how the H-60 Strategic Business Team (SBT) at FRCSE became involved. In January, both Seahawks were airlifted from Balad and delivered to FRCSE at NAS Jacksonville. The stationary aircraft was examined and a thorough evaluation of the damage it sustained was documented. Sudden stoppage/collision damage inspections and nondestructive inspections of all bulkheads and support structures were performed, as well as extensive examinations and evaluations of the drive train.

Over the course of four months, a donor tail was installed and a drive-shaft alignment check was performed to ensure proper structural integration.

Damaged aircraft are offloaded from a C-5 for repairs at FRCSE.Damaged aircraft are offloaded from a C-5 for repairs at FRCSE.Two damaged Seahawks were flown from Iraq in a U.S. Air Force C-5 Starlifter and off-loaded at NAS Jacksonville for evaluation and repair at FRCSE.

Structural repairs were completed along with the reassembly of the drive train and main rotor head assembly, and the installation of several new components. Additionally, an extensive examination of the aircraft's electrical and avionics equipment was performed and crash damage repairs were completed.

Before its final release with a clean bill of health, FRCSE performed an operational-level special inspection on the helicopter. In July, HSC-84 personnel completed their pre-flight checks, records review, ground turns and successful first flight. Two days later, the Red Wolves flew the like-new Seahawk back to their homeport at NS Norfolk.

HSC-84 is the Navy's only squadron dedicated to naval special warfare support and strike rescue. The squadron operates eight Sikorsky HH-60H Seahawk helicopters and is tasked with maintaining readiness to deploy anywhere in the world within 72-hours notice.

During the nine-month repair process, FRCSE electrician James Garlington (left) and aircraft mechanic Terry Dixon hook up the actuator to the center stabilizer of the HH-60H.

Night operations, especially those that are airborne, are among the most difficult activities performed by the military. Although darkness increases the effectiveness of surprise for our forces and reduces the enemy's ability to effectively aim his fire, there are many factors that contribute to night operations being a very dangerous environment. Those factors include limited visibility or the absence of a horizon, the affect in darkness where objects sometimes appear larger and distances seem greater, and the physical ability of the eye to adjust to varying light conditions.

In just nine months, skilled FRCSE artisans took in a damaged Seahawk and -- through dedicated precision -- saw it rise like the legendary Phoenix.

After FRCSE repaired serious damage sustained in a flight line accident in Balad, Iraq, this HH-60H helicopter assigned to the "Red Wolves" of HSC-84 took off "as good as new" for NS Norfolk, Va.