Photo By Cpl. Jody Lee Smith | One Marine died and three others were injured March 29 when their CH-53D Sea Stallion...... read more read more
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KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii - One Marine died and three others were injured March 29 when their CH-53D Sea Stallion went down in Kaneohe Bay.
Cpl. Jonathan D. Faircloth, an aerial observer with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Air Group 24, was brought to Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, where he was pronounced dead by the state medical examiner.
Faircloth, 22, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., joined the squadron in April, 2007, and deployed with them to Iraq in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2010.
Faircloth is survived by his wife, Alicia, two siblings, James and Danielle, and his parents, Dean and Beverly Faircloth, who described their son as a true gentleman and a happy person who loved the Marine Corps and his job.
Faircloth’s personal awards include four Air Medals and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
The three HMH-363 crewmen injured during the same incident were pilot Maj. Clinton J. Collins, copilot Capt. Kevin F. Hayles, and crew chief Cpl. Ronnie E. Brandafi no. All three Marines were transported to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for treatment and were last
reported in stable condition as they recover from their injuries.
While Hayles has joined the squadron recently, Collins has deployed with HMH-363 once to Afghanistan and Brandafi no, who joined the squadron in 2008 deployed with them to Iraq that year and to Afghanistan in 2010. Collins also deployed with HMH-362, also based at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, to Iraq in 2007.
A memorial service for Faircloth is scheduled at the base chapel April 7.
The Naval Safety Center investigator and the senior member of an aviation mishap board arrived in Kaneohe Thursday. The safety investigation is in its preliminary organizational stage.
Other members of the board include specialists in aircraft maintenance, operations and safety, and a flight surgeon.
The remains of the downed aircraft will be moved to shore once the on-site investigation is complete. The investigation must first analyze the debris and be able to distinguish between damage from impact or component malfunction and any damage due to the salvage efforts.
Pacific Environmental Corp., the Clean Island Council, the Coast Guard, MCB Hawaii’s Waterfront Operations and environmental office, with support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, extracted JP-8 fuel from the helicopter’s fuel tanks Thursday and monitored the impact area.
Approximately 700 gallons of fuel were collected from the downed helicopter’s external and internal fuel tanks. The base environmental office will monitor the site during and after the aircraft is moved to shore.
“In the event that fluids from inside the aircraft emerge when the aircraft is extracted, we will have the site surrounded by containment booms and are prepared to absorb fluids,” said Capt. Derek George, officer in charge, Environmental Compliance and Protection Department.
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2011 15:48 |
| Story ID: | 68112 |
| Location: | KANEOHE BAY, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 205 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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