– Virginian Pilot – After tracing the cause of a helicopter crash that killed three sailors to a wiring bundle that had been rubbing against a worn-out fuel line, the Navy turned its attention to the remaining fleet of MH-53E Sea Dragons sitting on the flight line at Norfolk Naval Station. The findings: The chafing problem existed to some degree in every Sea Dragon helicopter, placing each at risk for a similar catastrophe. In the weeks that followed, maintenance crews replaced degraded fuel lines and any wires that showed signs of chafing. Soon the remaining 28 Sea Dragons were flying again over Hampton Roads and abroad. Although the Sea Dragon is the Navy’s oldest, most maintenance-intensive and most crash-prone helicopter, the service remains confident in the long-term safety of the aircraft.