Wednesday
October 2, 2002 :
Sikorsky's Knighthawk successful in its first at-sea rescue by hoist
STRATFORD, Connecticut, USA ( By LINDA PINTO, CONNECTICUT POST Newspaper ) -
The newest Sikorsky helicopter type for the U.S. Navy succeeded in its
first hoist rescue at sea last week, according to officials at the
Stratford-based manufacturer.
The captain of a 35-foot Bertram sport fishing boat was hoisted aboard a
MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter after the destroyers USS Winston Churchill
and USS Cole intercepted his mayday call that his boat was taking on
water and suffering intermittent power losses off North Carolina,
Sikorsky spokesman William Tuttle said Tuesday.
The Churchill was conducting flight deck landing qualifications with a
MH-60S helicopter from the Norfolk-based Helicopter Support Squadron Six
(HC-6) Sept. 24 at 6:50 p.m., when the distress call came in from the
vessel Reeleaser.
The Cole was only 18 miles from Reeleaser's reported position. It began
a dash at 30 knots toward the boat's reported position, while Churchill
dispatched the MH-60S.
The helicopter, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Gordon and Lt. Dave Adams,
was vectored to the Reeleaser's location by the Cole and arrived at the
sinking vessel at about 7:20 p.m.
The Reeleaser's captain, identified as Richard Bartlette, 36, of
Yorktown, Va., abandoned his vessel and was picked up by a rescue
swimmer from Gordon's aircraft. Bartlette could not be reached for
comment Tuesday.
Bartlette was hoisted aboard and flown to the Churchill, where he was
reported in good condition. He was able to contact his family from the
ship to let them know he was safe, Sikorsky officials said.
Since 2000, Sikorsky produced about two dozen Knighthawks, Tuttle said.
The craft is a derivative of the Sikorsky workhorse, the Black Hawk and
the Seahawk, which also is used by the Navy.
The Knighthawks' main mission is logistic, Tuttle said, "Transferring
material and people from ship to ship."
However, he added, it was just a matter of time before the company knew
the craft would be called in for a rescue.
The MH-60S is currently flying in three operational squadrons, HC-5 in
Guam, HC-3 in San Diego, Calif., and HC-6 in Norfolk, Va. HC-5 aircraft
have flown search-and-rescue missions in recent months.
Bartlette, the first MH-60S Knighthawk hoist rescue, was flown ashore
the following day, a footnote to helicopter search- and-rescue history,
Tuttle said.
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