Erickson Incorporated has been selected as a subcontractor by Adams Communication & Engineering Technologies (ACET) for the refurbishment of two Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters in support of the United States Navy Heavy Lift Helicopter Program.
This is the first contract awarded by the U.S. Navy for depot-level maintenance of a MH-53E helicopter to a commercial contractor, according to Kerry Jarandson, Erickson’s Vice President of MRO and Manufacturing.
The MH-53E Sea Dragon is one of the largest helicopters in the United States military. It is a variant of the CH-53E and is used for mine countermeasures. That family of helicopters has a troubling accident history, according to Wikipedia:
Between 1969-1990, more than 200 servicemen had been killed in accidents involving the CH-53A, CH-53D and CH-53E. The MH-53E Sea Dragon is the U.S. Navy’s helicopter most prone to accidents, with 27 deaths from 1984 to 2008. During that timeframe its rate of Class A mishaps, meaning serious damage or loss of life, was 5.96 per 100,000 flight hours, more than twice the Navy helicopter average of 2.26. A 2005 lawsuit alleges that since 1993 there were at least 16 in-flight fires or thermal incidents involving the No. 2 engine on Super Stallion helicopters. The suit claims that proper changes were not made, nor were crews instructed on emergency techniques.
Erickson has been building and operating Sikorsky S-64 Aircranes, which can carry up to 2,650 gallons of water, since 1992.