Yasur helicopter: A history of splendid service - and deadly collisions
Alongside its many successes, the American-made craft also has a long list of accidents that claimed dozens of soldiers' lives.
By Yuval AzoulayIsrael obtained the CH-53 transport helicopter from the United States in the late 60s, and it has since been considered one of the workhorses of the Israel Air Force. Despite having been in use for five decades, it is still one of the central aircraft in the Israel Defense Forces repertoire.
The CH-53, known in the IAF as “Yasur”, has successfully been involved in a series of wars and complex military operations. This is thanks to its long life, ability to carry loads of up to 10 tons and option of deploying large numbers of troops to the field of battle. In the last decade, the IAF has devised a comprehensive plan to enhance its Yasur helicopters, by installing an advanced avionics system, estimating that the craft will continue to remain in operation for at least another 15 years. As part of this upgrade, the helicopters were also given the equipped with air-to-surface missiles for targets on the battlefield.
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An Israel Air Force Sikorsky CH-53 helicopter |
| Photo by: Reuters |
The Yasur helicopter has been in used in several significant operations, memorably in December 1969: In an operation carried out shortly after the IAF received the aircraft, Israeli paratroopers took over an Egyptian radar station and two Yasur helicopters carried the radar facilities back into Israel.
Dozens killed
But alongside its many successes in its IDF service, the American-made Yasur helicopter also has a long list of deadly accidents that have claimed many lives.
The most notable of these accidents was a crash in February 1997, when a mid-air collision of two Yasur craft killed 73 Israeli servicemen en route to southern Lebanon. Two decades earlier, in May 1977, the Yasur was at the center of another deadly accident, when 54 paratroopers lost their lives in a crash during a training accident not far from the West Bank town of Jericho.
Several months later, another accident involving the Yasur saw four servicemen killed in a crash close to Kibbutz Gat in southern Israel. In summer 1971, another Yasur helicopter crashed into the sea off the Sinai coast, killing 10 soldiers and officers as they returned to Israel following a mission.
In April 1974, two more Yasur helicopters were involved in a collision, when one landed directly on another already on the ground. Eight soldiers were killed in the incident.
In August 1992, two members of the IDF's elite search and rescue unit, the 669, were killed in a training accident in the Judean Desert. The two soldiers fell to their deaths when a rope used to descend from a Yasur broke.
During the Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah succeeded in shooting down a Yasur, killing its five crew members. The incident could have been worse, however, as the helicopter was shot down only a short time after a unit of paratroopers had disembarked from it.
Despite this litany of deadly crashes and even though the IAF has in recent years received the more advanced Blackhawk helicopter, the air force has yet to find a serious replacement for the Yasur. This is down to its extensive versatility, which allows it to be used as a search and rescue craft, as well as for the transport of troops, arms and equipment to the battlefield.
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"Despite this litany of deadly crashes and even though the IAF has in recent years received the more advanced Blackhawk helicopter, the air force has yet to find a serious replacement for the Yasur." The clear implication of this statement and the tone of the whole article is that the fact that there have been CH-53 crashes means there's something wrong with the helicopter. No facts are presented to show that any of the accidents mentioned were due to mechanical malfunctions or anything other than human error. Some may well have been caused by a mechanical problem, but there are no facts presented here other than the accidents themselves. Some clearly appear to have been caused by factors other than the aircraft. Also, human error - such as faulty maintenance - can cause mechanical problems as well. Considering how long these helicopters have been in the air and how many hours they've flown, I think the few crashes, tragic though they are, are a testimony to an outstandingly reliable aircraft, Israel's ingenuity in extending its working life, and the skill of the men who've flown it.
Why don't you take a loan from US and buy some new hellicopters from US? They will be very pleased.
The IDF needs to weigh the pro's and cons of this vehicle. Just because it's "versatile" doesn't mean it justifies how many soldiers lost their lives. You can easily separate different mission usage for different helicopters, the Blackhawk in itself is still a VERY versatile chopper, how many Blackhawks went down in Afghanistan and Iraq? Stop playing around IDF, time to re-organize which Heli's get used for what. I love the Blackhawk!
from what i saw on the news it seems the helicopter hit a rock and exploded in the air,it's just a preliminary investigation. The weather was kind of foggy
The vast majority of incidents involving this old workhorse heli' resulting in loss of life have been put down to pilot error as opposed to technical issues relating to the build quality of the craft itself. Following these tragic losses most notably that of 1997 I understood that the IAF/IDF were overhauling their pilot training and operational flying times to try and minimise incidents of human error/mijudgement. Upgrading an aeging fleet of helicopters would be wonderful but if training isn't addressed similar incidents regretfully may occur. PG there are some survivors from the Romanian incident. Am Yisrael Chai.
... written by people who don't know very much about the subject. Did any of the accidents mentioned have anything to do with the age or reliability of the helicopter? Are the airframes reaching the end of their service life? From this article, it's impossible to know.
A lack of technical background is often a weakness in reporting on aviation issues. Helicopters are inheriently less safe than airplanes. The chances of a single mechanical failure bringing down the aircraft is higher. The aircraft are often operated under conditions where exposure to high-risk conditions are prolonged (bad weather, low altitude, night flight, nap-of-earth flying) compared to modern aircraft. Read the litany of accidents in the article. Note how many are clearly operational in nature. There has been no investigation concluded. There is no significant information in any article I have read. The type of operation allegedly being conducted, whether it was 'training' or not, involves essentially dangerous flying. Yet we have folks blaming an 'old' helicopter. ANY aircraft type which has been in service (in various versions) for almost 50 years is going to have had some issues. The CH-53-D's flown by the IAF were extensively upgraded in the Yasur 2000 program and are rigorously maintained. We do not yet know if this was an operational loss due to error, or mechanical failure. All we know is some guys had a really bad day and their families are having a hard time.
better use well trained Pash Merga, like the Ghurkas used by the Brits.
... turned the corner for Jimmy. But he was a decent peanut farmer, wife not bad looking.
The Sikorsky is a reliable chopper as a rule. The 54 paratroopers (in 1977)died as the result of an errant grenade that went off. The 73 (in 1997) died as a result of pilot error in a fog. Blaming everything on an aging but otherwise reliable piece of equipment is ludicrous and unfair.
Most possible is human error as common reason in these types of accidents. Crew is exhausted after many days of long flights. Talking to each other changing seats.
Before I leave my deepest condolences to the families in heir anguished time. May the souls of the men rest in peace Amen.
The US Marine Corps has decided the only replacement for a CH-53 is another, up rated CH-53. The accidents described are they types of accidents which must be expected in the types of operations that the aircraft is used for. That a heavy lift helicopter will often be carrying large numbers of troops means an unusually high number of casualties in operational accidents.
Mark, you are correct, in the sense that whenever a heavy lift chopper crashes, invariably the casualties are high. The IDF also used the French Super Frelon, obviously those were many years ago, in fact when I was in the paratroops we jumped from the French made Nord aircraft. Imagine our delight when our parachutes which were French were finally changed to the larger US made version. Since you are a military buff, I thought you would appreciate some history. My first impression of the Yasur (CH-53) was one of amazement, it sure beat whatever other choppers we had in the IDF, I will always remember the Yasur in the same way as the Vietnam Vets remember the "Jolly Green". For the Yasur was the machine that always made it to the zone no matter how complicated the situation/weather. Have a nice day.
There is also a time when you have to start worrying about things like air frame, engines. This helicopter is 40 years old. Helicopters are just not designed for that kind of service life even with upgrades especially military ones which are work horses. If the air force wants a heavy lift cargo aircraft for carrying out operations like stealing that Egyptian radar in 1969 then prehaps a couple of Chinooks and other aircraft for troop transport. If they want something more multi role then its another issue because as far as I know the CH-53 is not built anymore. Another possible option is look to Europe. I know European hardware cannot be paid for with military aid but the IAF need to decide do they want whats best for the job or whats cheapest. They should remeber though that whatever they buy is going to be in service decades so its a one off purchase and the current CH-53 eventually have to be replaced it can't be put off forever so the IAF need to start thinking about the future... can buy a whole fleet of helicopters for the price of 1 F35 jet which is not the plane the IAF needs anyway as its next generation fighter and its to expensive to ever replace the F16 as the multi role fighter of the future so if we do buy any of those things how about buying less and saving the money for things like helicopters.
Apparantly, their are many in Cheil Avir,( IAF ) who will agree that the F35 is not only expensive but also not the right aircraft for our needs. Whether the IAF needs new heavy lift helicopters is not debatable.Its a fact. Therefore, I do agree with your post. However the problem of juggling the budget may well become a nightmare. The question remains, how to convince those that decide, the true value of purchasing the above and the necessity. Multi role fighters, fast attack helicopters has always been a priority, due mainly to conservative planning. The IAF has truly kept these Yasur CH-53 2000 flying due to diligent maintenance. The only possible replacement could well be the CH-53GA or my favourite, the Osprey V22. Shalom.