Boeing's CH-47 Chinook helicopter - Waging the War against Terrorism [Page 20].

A Fight in Afghanistan

MH-47D Destroyed in Afghanistan

7 October 2005: Kandahar, Afghanistan — An MH-47D Chinook helicopter, 89-00160, of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment was destroyed in an accident Friday, but all crew members emerged virtually unscathed.

The helicopter went down at about 8.30 p.m. during a combat operation in the Kunar province in eastern Afghanistan.

“Initial indications are it was an engine malfunction which caused the aircraft to make a hard landing,” said Lt. Col. Jerry O’Hara, spokesman for Coalition and Joint Task Force 76 at Bagram air base, in an interview.

As the twin-rotored helicopter was landing, “the aircraft shifted its balance and a rotor blade hit the ground, causing the aircraft to roll over,” he said.

The aircraft became unstable during a pinnacle landing and overturned onto its right side and descended down the slope. A fire quickly ensued. However, all crew members onboard were able to exit the wreckage with various injuries. Reports indicate the aircraft was completely destroyed.

There were seven personnel on the helicopter. “All crew members got out safely, but the aircraft was destroyed,” O’Hara said. Three of the crew suffered minor injuries that were treated at the scene, according to O’Hara. All have returned to duty, he said.

Chinooks Support Infiltrations

CH-47D Chinook helicopter 86-01682, while assigned to Company D, 113th Aviation, headquartered in Pendleton, Oregon. This photograph was taken just after the infilration (INFIL) of US Special Forces and Afghan National Army soldiers in support of Operation Zeynab on 4 December 2005 in southern Afghanistan. Click-N-Go Here to view a larger image.

CH-47D Shot Down in Afghanistan

4 December 2005: Kandahar, Afghanistan —Two US CH-47 Chinook helicopters made emergency landings Sunday in separate locations in southern Afghanistan resulting in the injury of five US soldiers and one Afghan National Army soldier, US military said in a press release.

"In the first incident, a Chinook helicopter (tail number unknown) made an emergency landing at a Forward Operating Base south of Tarin Kowt of Uruzgan province. One Afghan National Army soldier was injured and evacuated to a nearby US military treatment facility. He is listed in stable condition," it said.

"The second incident, in which five US soldiers were injured, occurred north of Kandahar and resulted in severe damage to the aircraft - 91-00269. The injured were evacuated to a nearby US medical facility for treatment, and all are reported in stable condition. None of the injuries were reported as serious," it added.

Both aircraft were involved in combat operations against enemy forces in southern Afghanistan. Afghan and US forces are conducting recovery operations.

A U.S. CH-47D Chinook helicopter blows up dust as it comes in to land, bringing gifts for distribution to mark Christmas, at the U.S base in Paktika province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan on 24 December 2005.

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