Senior Master Sgt. Scott Pittman, Master Sgt. Ronald Troxle, Master Sgt. Karl Owens, Tech. Sgt. Nathan Ahola, Tech. Sgt. John Knob, Staff Sgt. Joshua Cigainero and Staff Sgt. Kenneth Chapman went the extra mile for the 920th Maintenance Group here when a crucial training mission was in danger of being cancelled.
A wing HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter—aircraft 6238—landed at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., for high-altitude training (HAT) by our aircrew in preparation of an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.
Upon landing, the crew noticed smoke billowing from the #1 engine. Further inspection revealed the engine had lost oil, and three tail rotor blades were damaged during flight. The decision was made to change the engine and repair the rotor blades.
Without hesitation, Sergeants Ahola and Cigainero volunteered to work throughout the night to remove the faulty engine—even though they had just endured a long flight and helped unload a C-5 cargo aircraft.
The next morning, Sergeants Owens and Chapman began the repair process for the tail rotor blades—even though neither had experience repairing them in the past. The repairs they made saved both the unit—and the Air Force—the tens of thousands of dollars it would’ve cost to order new rotors.
Meanwhile back at Patrick, Sergeants Pittman, Troxle and Knob worked on a replacement engine for another HH-60. They decided to replace the engine with one recently removed from another aircraft that was due for a 600-hour inspection. Sergeant Pittman and his team aggressively tackled this demanding challenge and worked throughout the day—first to complete the extensive 600-hour inspection along with all accompanying documentation.
Normally, this task would’ve taken three days. Instead, thanks to Sergeant Pittman and his team, it was completed in a day.
The team then faced another challenge: getting the engine prepared and delivered to Davis-Monthan in time for the new engine to be installed and have the aircraft ready for the training mission scheduled for Monday.
After finding out the engine couldn’t be shipped via trailer, the team devised a way to get a container from supply to ship the engine on a C-5 aircraft. Overcoming all obstacles, the serviceable engine was packed, processed and loaded on a C-5 by 9 a.m. Sunday.
In the end, the engine made it to Davis-Monthan AFB in time for Sergeants Ahola and Cigainero to install it prior to the Monday deadline.
Without the diligent effort of these individuals, aircraft 6238 wouldn’t have been available for refueling training for helicopter crews. Their incredible teamwork is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of all those members involved.