crazy navy pilots

I read the crews were both suspended. They landed near the lake, and new navy personnel were flown in to assess damage and fly the choppers back out. The damage was around $500,000 according to that initial report.

 

I assume high density altitude that day had some part in the crews not being able to keep the helicopters out of the water.

 

High density altitude, vortex ring state, less predictable ground effects over water, etc. Lot's of possible contributing factors.