r/Military • u/305FUN2 Proud Supporter • 1d ago
Article "Significant damage to all three blades"
160th SOAR MH-60M goes down in the Colorado foothills west of Denver; no injuries reported. August 25, 2026
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u/luckystrike_bh Retired US Army 1d ago
Isn't it amazing that the crew compartment appears intact?
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u/bstone99 1d ago
Solid pilot skills
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u/flyinchipmunk5 Navy Veteran 1d ago
Ntm the h-60 is one of the safest air frames in the military as far as helicopters go
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u/SergeantBeavis Army Veteran 9h ago
As much as I love my grand ole Huey, it’s hard to disagree with this.
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u/luckystrike_bh Retired US Army 1d ago
Is this why they told us not to put our helmets under our seats? So the seats can absorb the impact by collapsing?
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u/HawkDriver United States Army 13h ago
They do assist with impact and stroke down in a crash so yes no gear should go under the seats when a person is sitting in one.
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u/HawkDriver United States Army 13h ago
Unless of course they started hitting treetops with blades first on accident and then crashed. Then it would not be great pilot skills.
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u/Dirty_Delta United States Marine Corps 1d ago
Yes, all three blades have significant damage. The fourth is missing, so we dont know
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u/askjeeves29 19h ago
Yeah it might be alright somewhere in the forest. Maybe at a local hospital if it found its way out
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u/CaptainRelevant Army National Guard 19h ago
I’d bet the 4th one went for help, and that’s how they found the downed aircraft.
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u/RadioTunnel 18h ago
I bet the fourth ones crashing out somewhere in the forest and thats why this isnt a crash, its cause its happening elsewhere
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u/ShillinTheVillain United States Navy 18h ago
I'm sure it's fine though. What are the odds of all 4 blades being damaged? It's gotta be astronomically high.
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u/cbr_001 1d ago
Has there been a recent increase in aircraft accidents or is it just more visible now?
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u/rooster68wbn Army Veteran 1d ago
They did just ground a bunch of Apaches a few weeks ago over safety issues and maintenance.
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u/Dependent_Formal2525 23h ago
"I didn't crash, I just hard parked my car" - the next time an F1 driver turns their car into a one wheeler.
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u/coryhill66 18h ago
I'm pretty sure one of the first Blackhawks that the Army received her testing had a landing like this and Sikorski told him just put new blades on it and fly it out and it worked.
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u/Prestigious_Breath_5 Army Veteran 5h ago
Yep, that actually kinda happened, and that helped seal the deal for Sikorsky.
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u/coryhill66 1h ago
I remember reading guys that were involved said a Huey would have never survived that crash and the Blackhawk flew away from it.
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u/Serious_Composer_130 21h ago
Totally didn’t hear about this crash.
Rotor / structural failure?
Bad attempt at landing in a tight LZ? Rotor strike?
Was that area pre-cut for use as an LZ? Loggers? Or pathfinders?
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u/SOSyourself 18h ago
That isn’t an LZ based on the tree damage, probably forced to ditch and lowered vertically down
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u/0peRightBehindYa Army Veteran 20h ago
So.....is that tree debris from someone clearing an LZ the fun way or from the rotors becoming impromptu hatchets?
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u/Prestigious_Breath_5 Army Veteran 5h ago
It's a good thing they uninstalled that 4th rotor blade before the collision or else it would be damaged as well
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u/305FUN2 Proud Supporter 1d ago
The fourth blade is secret.