Helicopter Rotor Wash Insident - Oooops, our bad.

[Sir John Honeybucket]

The NC National Guard has gone public, Yup, NCNG says 'Ooops' and the pilots likely are not high on the promotion board list.  To make amends, these pilots should be donated as labor to that Burnsville distribution site.      Its been said to be a poorly thought out landing attempt and that's that...

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/national-guard-helicopter-video/

[grizz]

My tinfoil hat says the chopper was manned by someone other than military, just to muck things up because it too close to the election and this will really mess up voting in the next few weeks

[Sir John Honeybucket]

Yes, when .gov says 'Nothing to see here.' there is generally something to see. 

[Felix]

Some copter pilots have opined that the "rotor wash" incident might well have been the product of bad decisions/poor piloting.
But iff it is true that the craft bore no ID, then this description of "innocence" carries less weight in my calculations of likelihoods.
What say you?
Conclusions drawn from critical thinking being about probabilities more often than certainties?

[Sir John Honeybucket]

Well, military helicopter I see pics of , have not had "N" numbers.  In the same way that military trucks do not have standard State license plates. 

Some mil flight guys, please chime-in.

[Nemo]

I have seen an Osprey aircraft fly over my neighborhood a time or 3 but cannot help beyond that.

But its suspicious.

Nemo

[Jackalope]

In my pre-retirement job, I often flew on helicopters into unusual locations. I sometimes was in the left seat of the chopper, assisting with radios etc.  In an active situation, I can see where this could have been accidental.  Remember, the limit of the rotor blast isn?t usually visible, unless you?re flying in dusty or snowy conditions.  I?ve been taken by surprise by the blast on a few occasions (when working around helicopters goggles are very useful).  Sounds like someone is looking to stir the manure.

[Sir John Honeybucket]

And that is the rub, after long days, flying loads into wild canyons and etc. I can see the weary young pilots wanting to be 'nice' and make their presence known to the volunteers on the ground.  Unfortunately, unlike a U.S. flightline, neat and tidy - no debris ready to lift off, that citizens' distribution point was a FOD farm because it was specifically not a landing zone with the helos they were supporting.. 

Really, I was thinking , what could the pilots do but once realizing the mess they'd created, pull collective, slowly back away and get out of there, which would also increase the debris storm on the ground.  Unfortunately for all, it happened and is definitely not a 'career enhancing move'.

'So, lieutenants, how did you two get selected to be Chief of Sewage Trap Inspections and Maintenance, here on Shemya ?"

Yes, rotor blast has to be experienced to believe how powerful it is.  My unit was out for a little PT run and two CH-53s decided to land to our left on our sprint back to the post.  Even in top shape it was difficult to keep legs from tangling and bodies all vertical and headed the right direction;  fun times.