UDPATE 5/25/23 1 p.m.
Coast Guard mechanics say they were able to complete all the necessary repairs in the field, and the helicopter that was forced to make an emergency landing on Tuesday was able to return to the air station around 7:30 p.m. They completed all in-flight testing during the flight back and the helicopter is now back in service.
5/23/23 10 p.m.
The Coast Guard has confirmed a leak in the hydraulic system is to blame for a Coast Guard helicopter having to make an emergency landing Tuesday afternoon.
The Coast Guard was conducting training over East Bay when they were alerted of a leak in the hydraulic system, at which point they were forced to make an emergency landing.
The Coast Guard says they’re not worried about any pollution issues possibly caused by the leak. They say most of the hydraulic fluid remained in the hydraulic bay and they are cleaning up any fluid around the aircraft.
The commanding officer for the Coast Guard Air Station in Traverse City, Commander Andy Schanno, says nobody was hurt in the incident.
“The crew is well trained on the procedure for a hydraulic leak or failure and that combined with how the aircraft is designed they were able to safely take the aircraft to land and lad on the ground,” Commander Schanno says.
Tuesday night, mechanics with the Coast Guard were still on site working to get the helicopter back up and running. Commander Schanno plans to have it the helicopter back at the air station by Tuesday evening.
5/23/23 5:10 p.m.
The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday afternoon confirmed that a Coast Guard helicopter had to make an emergency landing near a golf club.
Deputies say the helicopter landed as a precaution near the LochenHeath Golf Club in Williamsburg, and that it wasn’t damaged in the landing.
The Coast Guard says the crew made the landing because of a hydraulics leak while training over East Bay. They say they’re evaluating the helicopter’s condition before making plans to move it.
Officials said initial reports were that no one was injured in the incident.
We will have more on this developing story as we gather information.
