Major Shawn Robinson, a flight instructor, and 1stLt. Jeffrey Pardee, an advanced flight student, were on a TH-57B training flight with HT-8 at NAS Whiting Field. While practicing simulated in-flight emergencies on a gusty day, they felt a slight, uncommanded yaw. They initially attributed the yaw to wind, but then smelled smoke in the cockpit. As Maj. Robinson tried to identify the source, he glanced aft outside and saw black smoke trailing behind their helicopter. He immediately secured the environmental-control system (ECS), suspecting the air-conditioning belt might be the source of the smoke. They assessed the situation and initiated an immediate emergency landing in accordance with NATOPS. They turned their transponder to emergency and notified the crash crew at the nearest Navy outlying field.
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