The helicopter had just completed a Bay of Fundy exercise with the Coast Guard cutter from Westport and was returning to base when the warning light prompted a decision to land, said 14 Wing Greenwood public affairs officer Capt. Scott Spurr.
“Any time they have a warning light they try to sit down as soon as they can, so that’s what they did,” he said.
The helicopter and its crew of six landed in a field owned by Bill Wagner. Eyewitnesses said the landing was really loud and scary because they didn't know what was happening.
Crewmembers were taken back to base that evening and returned around 8 a.m. the next morning to service the helicopter.
“The helicopter itself is pretty sophisticated. They have to go and check everything out to make sure it’s still good to go,” Spurr said. “We thought we’d fly it back late yesterday (March 23) but we had to bring in technicians from the base to do some servicing.”
Any time they have a warning light they try to sit down as soon as they can - Capt. Scott Spurr
The helicopter is one of three search and rescue helicopters at the Greenwood base where it finally returned midday on March 24.
