MATTHEW S. ZUCCARO LAND & LIVE AWARD For outstanding aeronautical decision-making, crew resource management, and/or coordinated actions Andrew Champagne AET2, US Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, USA
US Coast Guard Avionics Electrical Technician Second Class Andrew Champagne joined the Coast Guard with a desire to save lives. Since joining the service in 2011, he’s made a lasting impact on countless lives, including those of his own crew. Stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Champagne is responsible for maintaining the electrical
systems of all the station’s Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk aircraft. As a part of his training, he attended vibration-analysis school for the aircraft’s systems. For rescues, Champagne serves as a flight mechanic and as a member of the flight crew working the hoist and with the rescue swimmer and pilots. Early in the pre-dawn morning of June 8, 2021, Champagne’s rescue crew
was dispatched to support a search near Boothbay Harbor, Maine, more than 175 miles away. Local conditions were 300 ft. with visibility down to half a mile with mist. Due to the distance and IFR conditions, the crew chose to load the full 5,800 lb. of fuel on board, filling all three of the aircraft’s external tanks. Shortly after takeoff, Champagne began to feel a vibration in his seat, but it
wasn’t immediately obvious where the vibration originated. After ruling out his seat, he announced an abnormal vibration. No other crew member felt it, yet the aircraft commander immediately asked if Champagne thought the flight should be aborted. “I could barely see the runway lights, so I knew we were close to where the
“No matter what you feel, see, or smell, it’s so important to speak up. A lot of people will second-guess themselves or are afraid to speak up, and that’s when accidents happen.”
clouds were starting,” Champagne recalls. “If we waited any longer, we’d need to climb and follow IFR procedures to return to the airport. Tat would put us over densely populated areas and extend the flight, increasing the chances something could go wrong.” Champagne called for the abort without hesitation. Once back at
AET2 Andrew Champagne
the hangar, he inspected the aircraft. When he reached the left inboard external tank, he was able to move it back and forth. It was loose and, with a full load of fuel, could have easily come off the aircraft. He and his crew immediately realized the potentially catastrophic situation they’d narrowly avoided. Had the 120-gallon tank come loose in flight, it would have landed over a populated area and could even have caused the aircraft to crash. “Te biggest thing we’ve all taken from this experience is no matter what you feel, see, or smell, it’s so important to speak up,” Champagne
says. “A lot of people will second-guess themselves or are afraid to speak up, and that’s when accidents happen. We’re fortunate to have a culture in the Coast Guard where any of us can decide to abort a flight and it’s never questioned. Maybe it’s nothing. But what if it was something?” Tanks to Champagne’s bold and concise actions and directions during takeoff, the crew
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averted a potentially deadly situation. His actions and the culture of the US Coast Guard to trust and follow any crew member’s call to abort illustrate the value of former HAI President Matt Zuccaro’s initiative Land & LIVE.
MARCH 2022 ROTOR 31
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