Oklahoma sailor leaned out of helicopter before fall, Navy says

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) _ A Navy investigation has found that one of its mechanics from Corpus Christi was at fault when he fell to his death from a helicopter in October. <br/><br/>The Navy says Petty

Sunday, December 25th 2005, 7:06 pm

By: News On 6

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) _ A Navy investigation has found that one of its mechanics from Corpus Christi was at fault when he fell to his death from a helicopter in October.

The Navy says Petty Officer Second Class Brian K. Joplin was conducting an unauthorized act during the October 4th accident in the Central Arabian Gulf.

Navy spokesman Lieutenant Herb Josey said Joplin placed his body partially outside the MH-53 helicopter while on a routine training flight.

Joplin lost consciousness, slipped out of his harness and fell 125 feet.

The helicopter was traveling through Bahrain to Kuwait when the accident occurred.

Officials said the Navy is reviewing its training standards to prevent these types of accidents.

Joplin was a native of Hugo, Oklahoma, and was deployed from Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in June.