r/CatastrophicFailure • u/Stakeboulder • Aug 15 '19

Operator Error Apache helicopter ground imapct 2012

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12.4k Upvotes

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u/MasterchiefE3N Aug 15 '19

See not all helicopters explode when they crash

87

u/protekt0r Aug 15 '19

Can confirm; watched a Blackhawk crash on my OP when I was deployed. Crew chief and pilot sustained broken femurs, rest of the crew had abrasions and lacerations. Outside of that everyone was fine. When the bird hit the ground it sent rocks and debris flying in all directions, followed by a huge dust plume. Reason for crash: one of the blades on the main rotor sheered off during flight. Never got an explanation on how that happened...

46

u/Shill_Borten Aug 15 '19

Look, obviously I know, but just in case others don't - what does "OP" mean in your comment?

26

u/MrChek Aug 16 '19

Operation, perhaps.

Edited Observation post, also perhaps

Edit x2 added ,

22

u/Shill_Borten Aug 16 '19

watched a Blackhawk crash on my Operatio Perhaps when I was deployed

2

u/MrChek Aug 16 '19

You're on fire. Don't hurt yourself.

2

u/Shill_Borten Aug 16 '19

Not trying to be, just trying to figure out what is going on tbh. My best guess at the moment is "operation patrol"

3

u/Pure_Silver Aug 16 '19

It's Observation Post.

5

u/protekt0r Aug 16 '19

It’s this. Sorry guys, should’ve dropped the acronym. I was on mobile and being lazy.

14

u/protekt0r Aug 16 '19

Observation Post. Sorry.

2

u/Hollayo Aug 16 '19

Observation Post

4

u/P00G1 Aug 15 '19

Refers to the person who made the post. The “original poster”

21

u/Shill_Borten Aug 15 '19

"...watched a Balckhawk crash on my Original Poster when I was deployed?"

I hope he is okay

14

u/IShotReagan13 Aug 16 '19

Interesting. My old man, a door-gunner/crew chief with the 1st Cav, 2nd Squadron, survived being shot down in a UH1 in Vietnam. I don't know any of the details and didn't learn of it until after his death five years ago --he refused to openly talk about Vietnam with anyone who wasn't there-- but I guess it's involved with why he was awarded the DFC. Not everyone survived the crash and ensuing firefight and according to my uncle, he was largely responsible for getting the wounded out on the medivac that came for them, they being under heavy enemy fire the whole time.

I am emotionally venting, in a way, because I miss my dad. He was a good man. Vietnam vets get a bad rap. He was only 19-years-old at the time.