A Phoenix search team initially identified the wreck site on 23 March using a pinger locator system (PLS-20) to listen for the acoustic beacon onboard the downed helicopter. A digital side scan sonar search system (SWISS) was then used to pinpoint the location and map the entire debris field. Thereafter, Phoenix deployed the US Navy’s DEEP DRONE Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) over a seven day period to recover all major components of the MH-47E to assist investigators in determining the cause of the crash. DEEP DRONE and the Phoenix recovery team were embarked on Van Oord ACZ’s 249 ft. construction vessel, M/V JAN STEEN.

The US Navy, through the Naval Sea Systems Command‘s Office of the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) developed and maintains a national capability to search, locate, and recover objects of interest lost in water depths to 20,000 feet. In addition to meeting the Navy’s search and recovery needs, SUPSALV offers its assistance in support of accident investigations on behalf of the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force, NASA, FAA, and NTSB as well as foreign governments and agencies requesting such underwater search and recovery expertise.

Phoenix provides high quality manned and unmanned marine services to an international customer base from major facilities in Landover, MD and Morgan City, LA. Phoenix is the SUPSALV prime contractor responsible for maintaining, modifying, upgrading, and operating Navy owned sonar, ROV, and heavy lift equipment required to plan and conduct underwater search and recovery operations on a worldwide basis.