Blackhawk helicopter assists Columbus Police Department with downed aircraft

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kim Snow | Staff Sgt. James M. Thrasher, a UH-60 Black Hawk crewmember assigned to the Ohio Army National Guard's A Company, 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment, assists Columbus police and fire department officials, Oct. 31, 2007, during the extraction of a downed Columbus Police Department helicopter.  

UNITED STATES

11.01.2007

Courtesy Story

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Ohio Adjutant General's Department

COLUMBUS, Ohio - UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crewmembers of the Ohio Army National Guard's 1-137th Aviation Battalion airlifted a downed Columbus division of police helicopter from the Scioto River earlier today.

The McDonnell Douglas 369E rotorcraft helicopter was on a routine traffic patrol Mon., Oct. 29, south of downtown Columbus, when the crew experienced an "in flight incident." The pilots safely maneuvered the helicopter to a bank in the middle of the Scioto River. The helicopter immediately began sinking in the mud and turned onto its side.

The Ohio Army National Guard State Safety Officer, Colonel Rick Hall, was called to see if the guard could help. "The Ohio National Guard has a federal, state and community mission. We have the personnel, experience and equipment to support the communities in which we live," said Hall. "As aviators, we never like to see this happen and we are glad the pilots were not hurt, but even more glad that we could help out," added Hall.

The Ohio National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is a medium-lift utility aircraft that was first introduced in the early 1970s and has a lift capability around 9,000 pounds.

The CPD helicopter was safely airlifted and set down at Lou Berliner Park.

• Date Taken: 11.01.2007
• Date Posted: 11.01.2007 09:26
• Story ID: 13541
• Location: US