European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 a a a the stars and stripes thursday april 19,1990 army to be urged not to buy final 1 32 Apache copters targeting system Complex electronics Are sensitive to moisture in Panama invasion they had to be dried out in ovens Washington apr the congressional investigative Agency will recommend that the army not buy the final 132 Apache attack helicopters it planned to Purchase because of serious problems with the aircraft congressional sources said tuesday. The general accounting office is expected to make its recommendations thursday in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on oversight and investigations. The subcommittee also has subpoenaed army Secretary Michael Stone whom the panel sought because of his prior role in the Pentagon As the army a chief acquisition executive. Army spokeswoman maj. Nancy Burt said late tuesday afternoon that Stone plans to appear before the panel. The army said that it responded to the subcommittees initial request for Stone by offering a two expert witnesses with the most knowledge on development Fielding and sustainment of the  the two witnesses would have been maj. Gen. Donald r. Williamson commanding general of army aviation systems come and maj. Gen. William h. Forster director of Force requirements weapons systems and a former Apache program manager. The panel refused and subpoenaed the army Secretary. The army plans to buy 807 apaches the latest attack helicopter from Mcdonnell Douglas at a Cost of $12 billion. It is committed to 675 the last 132 would Cost $1.49 billion which has already been appropriated for the current fiscal year. Congressional investigators and a recent army memorandum described widespread problems with the aircraft. Although the Apache is considered an All weather aircraft pilots had difficulty flying the helicopter through rain during the Early hours of the . Invasion of Panama last december. Rain and humidity caused moisture to build up on the helicopters sensitive electronic components forcing mechanics to use Heaters to dry out the parts. Improvements in the weather prevented further problems. From first deliveries in 1986 through december the army had received 534 apaches. Investigators found that the helicopter could perform All assigned missions an average of 49 percent of the time a Low rate for an army helicopter. In addition the investigators found that As Apache flight hours increased its ability to perform decreased. The Gao began its inquiry into the Apache at the request of rep. John Dingell d-mich., chairman of army gunship Breaks Down too often the army s $14-million Apache helicopter develops a maintenance problem every 54 minutes it spends in the air. Nearly half of the apaches Are defective before they take off. 2.75 in. Rockets Chain gun 30mm automatic Canon ah-64 statistics 30mm Cannon designed to fire 4,000 times before failing needs repair after 1,000 length 58 it. Height 15 it. Span 17 it. Crew Pilot and co Pilot gunner Mission weight 14,445 lbs. Max. Speed 227 Mph Cost $14 million sources Jane Sall the worlds aircraft . Army general accounting office the House subcommittee and is planning to Issue a full report later this year. Complaints last year from army col. R. Dennis Kerr about the apaches unreliability in Field exercises prompted Dingell Scall for an investigation. In Mesa ariz., Ken Jensen spokesman for Mcdonnell Douglas helicopter co., said the company was aware the general accounting office might make such a recommendation and might Call for use of the remaining appropriation for repair of the current Apache Fleet. Helicopters now coming off the Assembly line Are much improved Over earlier production he said. All new aircraft systems undergo changes Learned from their use and a despite whatever you do in engineering and testing things happen in the Field a he said. The Arizona Republic which first reported the Gao recommendation tuesday quoted an unidentified member of the subcommittee As saying that the Apache had been a a maintenance Nightmare a because of such problems As jammed guns disintegration of main Rotor Blades Ana overheating bearings in the Tail Rotor. Stateside Limo Drivers Good deed helps new yorkers image Amarillo Texas apr Michael Todd Friant places no Stock in the stories about rude new yorker since a limousine Driver returned his Wallet a Money included a with Only a Library card As a clue. The 13-year-old left the Wallet in the car last month while in new York with a theater group from Amarillo College Driver Tom Hagan tried to mail the Wallet to the Amarillo Public Library asking their help in finding the boy but the envelope containing the Wallet mistakenly ended up at the Harrington cancer Center probably be cause the Library card says a Camarillo Public Library member of the Harrington Library  the cancer Center recently contacted Todd who was surprised to find the $2 he had inside the Wallet was returned As Well. A i did no to think anybody in new York City would take the time to Send it Back a he said. High fiber vegetable diet May reduce cancer risk Washington apr diets with about twice the amount of fiber and vegetables now consumed by most americans can reduce the risk of Colon cancer by about 40 percent a government study shows. A research report published wednesday in the journal of the National cancer Institute reviewed 37 studies conducted since 1973 and found what it called a a great Deal of evidence that diets Rich in fiber and vegetables protect people against Colon cancer. A the data. Suggest a reduction in risk of approximately 40 percent for persons consuming diets High in fiber and vegetables a the report said. A furthermore there Are undeniable cardiovascular benefits and Little likelihood of Adverse consequences associated with this  Bruce Trock a researcher at Fox Chase cancer Center in Philadelphia said the evidence a is powerful Quot and very Clear. Vianca crash survivor indicted on drug charges Mineola . Apr a second survivor of january a crash of Vianca flight 52 has been indicted on charges he carried rubber encased cocaine in his bowels the Nassau county District attorney said tuesday. Jose Figueroa 31, of new York City a Queens Borough carried 3 a pounds of cocaine in 104 rubber packets according to a news release by District attorney Denis Dillon. A grand jury indicted Figueroa on a charge of first degree criminal Possession of a controlled substance. If convicted he could be sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Figueroa was hospitalized in critical condition with leg and internal injuries after the Jan. 25 crash in Cove neck. Of the 159 people aboard 73 died. Investigators have said the plane ran out of fuel. The flight destined for new Yorkus John f. Kennedy International Airport had come from Medellin Colombia. Figueroa is still being treated in Nassau county medical Center in East Meadow. In january Antonio Zuluaga 46, was indicted on the same charges for carrying cocaine in his intestines. Zuluaga suffered severe spinal injuries in the  fails to explain miscarriages at Usa today by Dana priest the Washington Post Washington a Federal investigators were unable to determine the cause of numerous miscarriages among employees at Usa today a Headquarters in suburban Rosslyn va., but said pregnant women working on some floors under renovation in 1988 were three times As Likely to have miscarriages As others in the building. A 16-month study by the National Institute for occupational safety and health released tuesday says a it is possible but unlikely that pregnant women a May have been exposed to harmful amounts of construction related.  it ruled out Lead Levels in drinking water the use of video display terminals and psychological stress. The findings frustrated employees at the National newspaper whose concerns about an unusually Large number of miscarriages in 1988 prompted the study. Reporters said two meetings were held tuesday with employees to discuss the findings and that some who attended were angered by the Lack of specifics. A i think there a a certain amount of frustration people must be feeling a said Sheila Gibbons a spokeswoman for Gannett co. Inc., which owns Usa today. She said the company a will study the study before deciding whether additional safety measures Are needed. The study found that a the miscarriage Cluster is apparently no longer an ongoing  it said 36 babies have been born to women employees since feb. 21, 1989. Twelve to 15 percent of All recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage according to medical experts. Roughly half of those Are believed due to chromosome defects that impede the embryos development. Usa today publisher Cathleen Black requested the investigation in december 1988 after an informal study by newsroom employees found that of the 36 women who got pregnant after december 1987, at least 13 had miscarriages. The Institute conducted extensive on site analysis of the work environment in the two Rosslyn buildings housing the newspaper and its corporate offices. It Analysed a questionnaire that was completed by 583 current and 173 former women employees. The Institute studied 84 pregnancies reported Between Jan. 1, 1986, and feb. 21, 1989, 27 of which ended in miscarriage. The most dramatic a Cluster a defined by the Institute As an unexpected grouping of events was identified among women working on the 14th and 15tn floors of the Usa today building who conceived in 1988. All eight pregnancies studied in this group ended in miscarriage. The building was under renovation Between 1986 and 1989, and construction took place on the 14th and 15th floors Between March 1988 and january 1989. Employees said Walls ceilings and carpets were ripped out and that Tempo Rary Walls and thick plastic sheets were put up As Protection but that dust fumes and loud noises were common. The Institute was unable to determine the potential exposure of pregnant women to a number of toxic chemicals used in the renovation because most of the renovation was completed before the Agency a initial visit to the building. The cause of a miscarriage Cluster historically has been difficult to determine. They often Are believed to be nothing More than a statistical Blip and the Institute warned Gannett before it began the study that identifying a culprit would be unlikely. Such clusters Are especially hard to study because investigators Are not called upon until after the fact and because relatively Little is known about the mix of workplace hazards that can affect the fetus. A it should not be a Surprise we  find a specific cause a said Lom sinks an Institute epidemiologist no worked on the study. A a it a understandable a few workers Are upset we did t