Posted: 12/13/2009 4:36:31 PM EDT
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Refueling accident is what doomed the Iran hostage rescue in 1980.
HC-130 was on the ground with refueling hoses extended to refuel the helicopters. Rotor wash from the helicopters was kicking up a huge amount of dust. Guy holding the marshalling wands (flashlights with cones on the ends) and directing the helicopter pilot towards the refueling probe got dust in his eye and went to rub his face against his arm, causing him to shift the marshalling wand. Helicopter pilot followed the "direction" (seeing only the wand) right into a tailstrike on the HC-130. Kaboom. |