2 Killed in Crash of Navy Helicopter

Two crew members were killed and four others injured Thursday when a Navy helicopter from the Naval Weapons Station at China Lake crashed during a routine mission in rugged and snowy terrain near Lake Isabella in Central California.

The HH-1 Huey helicopter from the Dust Devils squadron took off from China Lake at 9:30 a.m. and crashed on Split Mountain in Sequoia National Forest about 1 p.m. The station is involved in testing a variety of weapons and weapons systems, including some meant for helicopters.

The Huey has been a workhorse helicopter for the U.S. military since before the Vietnam War, performing missions ranging from search and rescue to anti-submarine warfare and medical evacuation. More Western countries fly Huey helicopters than any other helicopter.

The four Navy personnel injured were airlifted to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital by Navy and civilian helicopters. None of the four suffered life-threatening injuries, a Kern County Fire Department official said.

The names of the dead were not released pending notification of their families. A China Lake spokesman said that no cause has been determined for the crash and that an investigation is underway. The helicopter was on a search-and-rescue training mission when it crashed.

The crash site is about 120 miles north of Los Angeles. Although the site is off the base, it is not unusual for helicopters to train in the area, officials said.