growing short. This awareness created a quicker pace and increased effort on 

 the part of all project personnel, until inevitably, an accident occured. 



During the final phase of pre-mission trials, the minitat was emplaced on the 

 bottom and all systems activated. At the conclusion of this test it was planned 

 to lock in two divers on the bottom and raise the minitat to the surface with 

 the divers still pressurized to the equivalent depth of 100 FSW. Upon surfacing 

 the divers would undergo the necessary decompression required for the length of 

 their dive while simulating decompression from a saturation dive. 



Through a critical breakdown in communications, so common in diving operations, 

 a series of errors occured. The pontoons were partially dewatered until positive 

 buoyance was attained and the minitat raised 25 feet off the bottom by releasing 

 tension on the two hand winches. At this juncture the minitat was unmanned with 

 the hatch open suspended from the bottom at a water depth of 75 feet. Due to 

 the tension on the hand winches, and in accordance with Murphy's Law, one of the 

 divers attempted to adjust the buoyancy in order to reduce the winch tension and 

 make the winching operation easier. Apparently too much sea water ballast was 

 added, creating a slightly negative condition. The minor settling caused com- 

 pression of the air in the open pressure vessel, further reducing the buoyancy. 

 This resulted in a rapid plunge to the bottom. 



Upon sealing the hatch and recovering the minitat, according to specified pro- 

 cedures, it was found that approximately 100 to 200 gallons of sea water had 

 entered the bilge of the minitat. After pumping out the sea water, all elec- 

 trical components located near the false deck were flushed with fresh water 

 and dried. Through a concerted effort on the part of a weary crew all of the 

 systems were functional the following day. Inspection of the minitat revealed 

 no apparent structural damage as a result of the hard contact with the bottom 

 and the entire crew was eager to get on with the job. The project termination 

 date was firm, however, based on transportation arrangements and personnel 

 assignments scheduled earlier and with but three weeks remaining in the alloted 

 schedule the project was suspended. A regretable decision, but in retrospect, 

 a necessary one. 



III-16 



