Flap, Flap, Flap! is much better than grinding metal follow by silence!

When I got transferred to Puerto Rico I had to complete an HH-3F syllabus before the move.
I had been flying in HU-16Es old sea planes for most of my time in Mobile.

First syllabus ride... Taxi out - Brought it up to 100% check - left ground to a hover - heard a grinding noise - returned to ground - back of helo had hydraulic fluid everywhere - rotor blades not going around anymore.

Walked back to Avionics Shop but syllabus book on my Chief's Desk and told him the detailer would have to find me a new duty station without a rotor aircraft. I did complete the syllabus and our two years in Puerto Rico were the best! I had a couple other scary things happen in a helo, but only once did the rotor stop turning and 5 feet off the ground is not that far to fall