Downwash from the rotors of an Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter dislodged a rock that struck a stranded hiker during an Aug. 31, 2014, rescue, an Air Force investigation found.
The Pave Hawk with the 176th Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was in the process of rescuing four stranded hikers — – two of whom were injured — – from Copper Mountain in the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve in southern Alaska, the accident report said.
The force of the downwash from the hovering helicopter dislodged a rock that fell and struck one of the hikers in the forehead, knocking him unconscious. The Pave Hawk crew was able to successfully rescue the hikers and take them to a hospital in Anchorage.
The Air Force launches accident investigation boards after any incident that involves serious injury to a person or damage to property.
