Airmen help Sailors return to the skies over Japan

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lynsie Lorenz
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Airmen here assisted a Navy flight crew when they experienced in-flight complications and were forced to make an emergency landing April 15.

The crew of the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter from nearby Atsugi Naval Base was participating in a routine exercise when they began experiencing problems.

"The compressor of the engine stalled causing high engine temperatures, reducing power input," said quality assurance officer, Lt. Nick Ryan. "These high temperatures then caused damage to the delicate turbines of the engine."

The aircraft pilot contacted Yokota's air traffic control tower for assistance in getting the aircraft on the ground safely. Once on the ground, an airfield management team assisted the Sailors with the coordination of support.

The Seahawk is a twin-engine helicopter made to handle anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and search and rescue.

Although the Air Force employs the similar UH-60 model helicopter, there are slight differences from the Navy's SH-60. The Navy version is set up for the boarding of a ship and has specialized landing gear.

Despite the differences, Yokota's team of maintenance professionals were able to adapt and help overcome the difficulties of working on an aircraft they are not entirely familiar with. 

"We had to perform the maintenance on the flight line because we could not get a tow bar compatible with the Navy version of the H-60," said Lt. Ryan. "Other support, including the crane, was perfectly suitable and much appreciated."

The airmen at Yokota helped the flight crew replace their over-heated engine and get airborne again in six hours.

Although the Navy helicopter was once again worthy of the skies and on its way back to Atsugi, that didn't mean the Airmen's job here was complete. 

"Their focus now is to investigate the cause of the engine's overheating," said Master Sgt. Kyle Lyon, UHI contract functional commander of the 374th Maintenance Group.  "This process can take anywhere from one week to one month and could reveal anything from a screw or washer being sucked in the inlet or a bird being struck during flight."