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We had a CH-53 lose 13 feet of one rotor blade while flying at 3,000ft AGL. Folks on the ground said “it exploded”.

If a -53 looses a complete blade (33’ long, IIRC) it shifts the CG of the rotating mass 24 inches. This tries to make the rotor mast oscillate about the new CG in a 4 foot diameter circle, three times per second. It is estimated that the airframe experiences a 30G to 50G acceleration, i.e., it “explodes”.

Our pilot was attempting to back down onto the field hospital pad with our lead bird on the deck with rotors turning. he could not see, relying on the crew chief at the ramp for directions.

I "think" (hey, been 47 years) the moment of rotor impact pretty much killed lift and we went down, then the thing tore itself apart. Upper structure tore off completely, shrapnel everywhere according to they guys on the ground unloading wounded from the first helo. Said the thing was vibrating so fast they could not see it.