SMA SEARCH AND RESCUE ACFT IN A LOW ALT CIVIL OP IS DAMAGED WITH IT HITS THE WATER. INFLT ENG SHUTDOWN. DIVERSION FOR EMER LNDG DECLARED.

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THIS RPT IS BEING MADE BECAUSE I AM A PLT THAT WAS ON THE R SIDE OF ACFT (COPLT) AND OBSERVED THE ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT THE PIC BUT I FEEL I SHOULD RPT THIS INCIDENT ANYWAY. WE WERE ON A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION AND HAD FOUND A BOAT WITH REFUGEES ON BOARD. ON ONE OF OUR PASSES THE ACFT SUDDENLY DSNDED FROM 200 FT APPROX TO SEA LEVEL. WE IMPACTED THE WATER AND OUR UNDER BELLY WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. WE HAD 1 ENG (REAR) OPERATING AND WERE FORCED TO DO A GEAR UP LNDG AT MARATHON. NO INJURIES; NO FURTHER DAMAGE. THIS ACCIDENT WAS RPTED TO MIAMI FAA ON MAY/XX/93 AT XX00 LCL; ALSO BY LCL POLICE. THE ONLY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN SOME MILD TURB (A DOWNDRAFT) THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SUBTLE ENOUGH TO CATCH THE PLT UNAWARE OF HIS DSCNT. UPON IMPACT; PLT PULLED THE NOSE UP AND I ASSISTED IN COCKPIT MGMNT; SUCH AS CLRING THE COCKPIT AND HANDING HIM CHKLISTS. IMMEDIATE ACTION ITEMS WERE TAKEN CARE OF WITHIN 40 SECONDS; POSSIBLY LESS. THE PLT'S DECISIONS WERE ALL IN MY OPINION CORRECTLY AND EFFICIENTLY COMPLETED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM ACN 249774: I WAS FLYING A SEARCH AND RESCUE FLT; FLYING LOW WHEN A DOWNDRAFT CAUSED THE PLANE TO HIT THE WATER. THE PLANE BOUNCED AND DAMAGED THE LNDG GEAR DOORS. I HAD TO FORCE LAND IN MTH.