After an overnight stay in an open field off Harpers Road, the Sea Dragon Navy helicopter is finally back home at Naval Station Norfolk.
It landed there yesterday after a precautionary landing by the pilot.
About 90 seconds after take off from Oceana, the fire indicator light turned on. The pilot discharged the fire bottle, or extinguisher, on board, but the light still didn’t go off. That’s when he decided to land it in the field.
No one was hurt and there was never a fire on board. But the helo was kept out there until the Navy felt it was safe enough to fly again.
The fire bottle that the pilot discharged had to be replaced, as well as some maintenance work done, before the helicopter was allowed to take off.
Once that was done, the propellers got going and the helo lifted into the air.
It's still not clear why the fire indicator light went on, but the helicopter is back at Naval Station Norfolk for a full evaluation.
