"Error replicating vbucket" after removing es node from cluster

1) replicating default bucket to single index in a 3 node es cluster
2) start loading docs to couchbase at 2k ops
3) shutdown one of the es nodes
4) errors in the UI say:
2012-12-11 21:43:38 - Error replicating vbucket 724: {http_request_failed, "HEAD", "http://Administrator:*****@10.0.0.5:9092/sample%2f724%3b00000000000000000000000000000000/", {error, {error, {econnrefused, [

{lhttpc_client, send_request,1}

,

{lhttpc_client, execute,9}

,

{lhttpc_client, request,9}

]}}}}
2012-12-11 21:42:14 - Error replicating vbucket 181: {http_request_failed, "HEAD",

couchbase logs I see

=========================CRASH REPORT=========================
crasher:
initial call: xdc_vbucket_rep:init/1
pid: <0.19772.5>
registered_name: []
exception exit: {http_request_failed,"HEAD",
"http://Administrator:*****@10.0.0.5:9092/sample%2f724%3b00000000000000000000000000000000/",
{error,
{error,
{econnrefused,
[

{lhttpc_client,send_request,1}

,

{lhttpc_client,execute,9}

,

{lhttpc_client,request,9}

]}}}}
in function gen_server:terminate/6
ancestors: [<0.17476.5>,<0.17471.5>,xdc_replication_sup,ns_server_sup,
ns_server_cluster_sup,<0.59.0>]