Search Continues For Fourth Crewmember

Search efforts are underway following the fatal downing of a US Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter during a training exercise Thursday night south of Honolulu, HI.

USCG Rear Admiral Manson Brown told the Honolulu Advertiser three of the Dolphin's four-man crew were killed when the helo impacted the water six miles off Sand Island, during a "routine" mock search-and-rescue exercise. The accident occurred at approximately 8:15 pm.

Three crewmembers were recovered from the water by the Honolulu Fire Department, and transported to Queens Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead. A fourth crewmember remains missing as of Friday morning.

"This is a very difficult case because rescuers are being rescued," said Brown, 14th Coast Guard District commander.

The helicopter was based at USCG Air Station Barbers Point. The Coast Guard says its the first major downing of one of its rescue helicopters in over 25 years.

Crews onboard a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and Coast Guard lifeboat were in the area at the time of the accident, and saw the Dolphin go down. The Coast Guard dispatched a C-130 rescue plane to the accident site.

Personnel with the fire and police departments, as well as US Navy officials, are assisting in search efforts.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: UNK        Make/Model: S65C      Description: SA-365C DAUPHIN 2
  Date: 09/04/2008     Time: 0615

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: HONOLULU   State: HI   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  HELICOPTER CRASHED DURING TRAINING MANEUVERS, HONOLULU, HI

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   3
                 # Crew:   4     Fat:   3     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   1
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: UNK

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Training      Phase: Maneuver      Operation: OTHER

  FAA FSDO: HONOLULU, HI  (WP13)                  Entry date: 09/05/2008

FMI: www.uscg.mil/d14/airstaBarbersPoint/