# Rescue helicopter has crashed **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 4, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120 "2005-09-04T23:50:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/1 "2005-09-04T23:50:55Z")
Just saw some footage on CNN of a rescue helicopter that had crashed in New Orleans. I couldn’t tell the type. Wasn’t a Black Hawk, Sea Hawk or Dolphin (née Dauphin). The underside was orange, but I couldn’t tell if it was USCG or not. Wheels on pods, and a nosegear. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/2 "2005-09-04T23:52:19Z")
USCG Sea Hawk has landed nearby. Crewman in the door waved off the news helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/3 "2005-09-04T23:54:31Z")
I hope it wasn’t a [Canadian Sea King](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=333170) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/4 "2005-09-04T23:57:32Z")
> [@grienspace](#): > > I hope it wasn’t a [Canadian Sea King](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=333170) The Sea King has a tailwheel. This one looks sort of like a Bell 222, only the tail rotor looks wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/5 "2005-09-05T00:17:04Z")
Maybe an AB139? CNN has reported that the pilot and crew have been rescued. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/6 "2005-09-05T00:19:56Z")
CNN reporting it was a [Eurocopter AS 332 Super Puma](http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.impact/index.html). Pilot and crew reportedly rescued. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/7 "2005-09-05T00:26:06Z")
That looks like it. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/8 "2005-09-05T00:32:50Z")
That looks like a pretty beefy helo. Who would be flying one of those? ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/9 "2005-09-05T02:15:49Z")
A news report says the official word is that it was a civilian copter not involved in the evacuation efforts. Wonder what it was doing there? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/10 "2005-09-05T02:22:31Z")
> [@Bookkeeper](#): > > A news report says the official word is that it was a civilian copter not involved in the evacuation efforts. Wonder what it was doing there? Googling round, I found a page that says this helicopter is ‘particularly popular for offshore oil rig support work.’ Could belong to one of the oil companies, or a company that provides support to them. What was it doing there? If not flying SAR, then perhaps on its way to inspect oil infrastructure. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/11 "2005-09-05T04:14:40Z")
[SMH](http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/rescue-chopper-crashes-in-new-orleans/2005/09/05/1125772438438.html) reporting it as a Coast Guard helicopter. I’m not familiar with their color schemes - it could even be chartered by the Coast Guard - do they do that? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/12 "2005-09-05T04:21:10Z")
It could be a corporate owned helo being used in the recovery effort. Not too different from the airline jets being used to airlift survivors to other areas. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/13 "2005-09-05T04:45:59Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Googling round, I found a page that says this helicopter is ‘particularly popular for offshore oil rig support work.’ I don’t think there any in the Gulf of Mexico, though. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/14 "2005-09-05T04:55:32Z")
> [@Tapioca Dextrin](#): > > I don’t think there any in the Gulf of Mexico, though. [There are](http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22gulf+of+mexico%22+%22offshore+oil+rig%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8). > [@cabdude](#): > > SMH reporting it as a Coast Guard helicopter. I’m not familiar with their color schemes - it could even be chartered by the Coast Guard - do they do that? Coast Guard helicopters are orange and white with a black nose. I would say that they _all_ have large white areas, but my memory fails me. In any case, I saw no USCG markings on the Puma. I’ve never heard of the USCG hiring private helicopters. I can think of reasons not to, though. Pilots not only keep track of their flying hours, but also hours ‘in type’. Different aircraft have different flying qualities. The USCG uses SH-60 Sea Hawks and HH-65 Dolphins. They _might_ have a Sea King or two around, but I doubt it. USCG pilots train extensively on USCG helicopters. They know the systems intimately. It would be somewhat dangerous to put an aircrew into an unfamiliar type like the Puma. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/15 "2005-09-05T05:00:13Z")
Speaking of the Dolphin though… The HH-65 Dolphin is made my Aerospatiale as the ‘Dauphine’. (I mentioned that earlier.) Are there any other U.S. Military aircraft that are bought from foreign countries? (The Harrier is a 1960s British design, but it’s made here by McDonald Douglas.) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/16 "2005-09-05T05:17:35Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > [There are](http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22gulf+of+mexico%22+%22offshore+oil+rig%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)… I meant Super Pumas. It’s usually Bell 412s in the Gulf. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/17 "2005-09-05T09:54:40Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > [There are](http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=%22gulf+of+mexico%22+%22offshore+oil+rig%22&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8). > > Coast Guard helicopters are orange and white with a black nose. I would say that they _all_ have large white areas, but my memory fails me. In any case, I saw no USCG markings on the Puma. > > I’ve never heard of the USCG hiring private helicopters. I can think of reasons not to, though. Pilots not only keep track of their flying hours, but also hours ‘in type’. Different aircraft have different flying qualities. The USCG uses SH-60 Sea Hawks and HH-65 Dolphins. They _might_ have a Sea King or two around, but I doubt it. USCG pilots train extensively on USCG helicopters. They know the systems intimately. It would be somewhat dangerous to put an aircrew into an unfamiliar type like the Puma. Shock Horror Gasp! Journalist makes major factual error when reporting an aviation story :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/18 "2005-09-05T14:36:58Z")
> [@cabdude](#): > > Shock Horror Gasp! Journalist makes major factual error when reporting an aviation story :rolleyes: Well, excuse me for answering your question! > [@cabdude](#): > > I’m not familiar with their color schemes - it could even be chartered by the Coast Guard - do they do that? :rolleyes: **Tapioca Dextrin** : Sorry. Thought you were talking about the rigs. ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/19 "2005-09-05T14:42:36Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Well, excuse me for answering your question! > > :rolleyes: > > **Tapioca Dextrin** : Sorry. Thought you were talking about the rigs. \*\*Johnny L.A. \*\* 😕 you did answer my question - the rolly-eyes was for the journalist of a major newspaper making a factual error - once again. Sorry mate. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120/20 "2005-09-05T14:47:57Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > Googling round, I found a page that says this helicopter is ‘particularly popular for offshore oil rig support work.’ Could belong to one of the oil companies, or a company that provides support to them. What was it doing there? If not flying SAR, then perhaps on its way to inspect oil infrastructure. Because, you know, making sure the oil infrastructure is so much important than, you know, maybe using that helicopter to _help_ people. :rolleyes: I mean, get the city and its people back on its feet, _then_ start worrying about the oil, kay? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rescue-helicopter-has-crashed/320120.md?page=2)