Two of the last four fatal CH-46E helicopter crashes happened locally. Investigators mostly blamed the pilot for flying too low, causing a rear wheel to catch on steel netting and flipping the chopper on its back into the sea. Investigators blamed the crash on pilot error. The helicopter's rotor blades struck part of the ship and fell into the ocean. The late-night collision was blamed on the pilot of the attack helicopter, who was killed.
Marines say that safety comes from the thorough inspections.
Checks of rotor head assemblies, engines and other critical parts do reduce emergencies in flight or on the ground, Marines say. Some inspections are done more frequently. Last month, Navy officials temporarily ordered the helicopter's bell crank assembly checked every 10 hours of flight, instead of the normal 25-hour schedule after cracks were discovered. Over the years, the Marine Corps has upgraded systems and added safety equipment, from crash-resistant cockpit seats to better avionics systems. And more fixes are coming.