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150954 was assigned to HC-11 Gunbearers 04/14/2005. Remarks by Howard Rundberg: The old '46’s' have been around for a long time. In the 1960’s we had an assignment to develop an external fuel tanks installation for them. We decided it would be best to install a basic external stores system so either the tanks or ordnance could be carried. The mechanical engineers designed the bomb racks installation and we designed the electrical arm and release circuitry. Whenever an aircraft electrical system is modified it is required that an electrical interference survey be conducted with the engines and all electrical/electronic systems running simultaneously. Electronics engineer LJ Meyers, who was a Naval Reserve pilot, and I conducted the survey. LJ was in the back recording the measurements and I was in the cockpit operating the systems. The mechs corrected a problem which had delayed getting the engines started, then LJ’s intercom mic switch became intermittent. We got everything going eventually and then one of the admiral’s stewards showed up saying the noise from the helicopter’s engines was disturbing the admiral’s garden party. We ran him away. This one and several other H-46’s crashed for some unknown reason. The problem was found eventually when one was taking off in view of several persons and they saw the aft rotor pylon break off. The problem was corrected and some H-46’s are still flying in 2005. A young Marine helicopter mechanic and I were talking recently about helicopters. I mentioned the age of the H-46's and the Marine said: "You can't trust a helicopter that's less than 20 years old.'" |
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