[Balata]

The first thing people seem to automatically jump on with these chopper crashes is mechanical problems when in reality the deadliest thing by far is the whirling sand. It can quickly disorient the pilots and without altitude and airspeed the results are disasterous. More mechanical problems are cause by sand as opposed to age of aircraft.

[AFPhys]

True about sand being a big problem for the chopper visibility, especially on landing.... However, the CH46 seems to have had problems far from sand, from what I've gleaned.

[Mustang]

Agree w/your above #249. FOD (foriegn object damage), especially with the desert sand and grit, can be a bitch w/ a helo's turbojet engine.

Our prayers go out to those brave souls and their loved ones.