Accident Summary:
Aircraft boarded 10 troops in the PZ, did a 180 degree hovering turn and took-off. At 10 feet, the aircraft lost RPM and started crabbing to the right even with full left pedal. As the pilot set the aircraft down, it oscillated and the blades struck the ground. Two exiting ARVN troops were hit and killed by the blades. The transmission separated from the aircraft
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13595
The Army purchased this helicopter 0365
Total flight hours at this point: 00002858
Date: 08/14/69
Accident case number: 690814271 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 68 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 5 . . Passengers = 1
costing 312378
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
AC W1 KANE DC
P W1 BROWN LL
CE E5 CHANDLER DR
G E4 BALLIET
Passengers:
O3 UNKNOWN, FCO, G;
Accident Summary:
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM XUAN LOC AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 HRS ON 14 AUG 69 TO CONDUCT A COMBAT ASSAULT AS A SMOKESHIP FOR THE 68TH ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY. THEY HAD CONDUCTED TWO SMOKE RUNS COVERING THE LIFT ELEMENTS OF THE COMPANY EARLIER IN THE DAY AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON ITS THIRD SMOKE RUN WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE LNNDING ZONE WAS NEAR THE BASE OF A LARGE HILL THAT WAS COVERED WITH TALL TREES AND THICK VEGETATION. THERE WAS A TREE LINE GENERLLY FOLLOWING THE CONTOUR OF THE BASE OF THE HILL. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS AT THE CONTROLS LAYING THE SMOKE SCREEN ON THE LEFT OF THE FLIGHT AND ALONG THE TREEE LINE. WHILE ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE SMOKE RUN, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF THE SMOKE SHIP STRUCK A DEAD TREE WHILE ON A HEADING OF 165 DEGREES, AT L0 KNOTS AIRSPEED, AND APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AGL. THE BLADE ON THE LEFT SIDE STRUCK THE 8 INCH DIAMETER TREE. THE CREW HEARD A LOUD CRACKING NOISE AT IMPACT WITH THE TREE. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE NOSE LEVEL, BUT WITH THE LEFT SIDE LOW, ABOUT 75 YARDS PAST THE TREE. AT INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, BOTH SKIDS, THE LEFT DOOR GUN, AND A METAL STEP JUST BELOW THE CARGO DOOR WERE TORN OFF. THE ROTOR BLADE HIT A STUMP ON THE LEFT AT THIS TIME. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SLIDE FORWARD ON THE GROUND IN THE DIRECTION OF FLIGHT. SINCE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE UH-1H HAD DUG INTO THE GROUND AT IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNING TO THE LEFT AS IT MOVED FORWARD. THE TAIL BOOM HAD BROKEN OFF AT ATS BASE AT THIS TIME AND CONTINUED FORWARD. THE FUSELAGE SLID OVER A SMALL RIDGE AND THROUGH THE AIR AND CAME TO REST IN A DE PRESSION ON A HEADING OF 050 DEGREES. DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR GUNNER WAS THROWN FROM THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF HIS SAFETY HARNESS. DURING THIS TIME, THE FLIGHT HAD LANDED AND DISCHARGED ITS TROOPS. THE COMMAND AND CONTROL AND CHALK TWO AIRCRAFT LANDED IMMEDIATELY AT THE SITE. BY THE TIME THEY LANDED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS BURNING.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13595
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter
and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 0365.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196610 85 1396 3409 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 196611 13 1409 3409 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 196612 46 1455 3409 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 196701 113 1568 3409 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 196702 97 1665 3409 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 196703 175 1840 3409 POST SUPPLY 6TH ARMY FORT ORD 6TH ARMY 196704 126 1966 3409 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 196705 0 1966 WCLUAA 611 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 196706 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 196707 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 196708 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 196709 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 196710 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 196711 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 196712 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 196801 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196802 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196803 0 1966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196804 0 1966 8005 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 196805 0 1966 8005 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196806 0 1966 8005 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196807 0 1966 8005 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 196808 0 1966 8005 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196809 0 1966 8005 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196810 2 1968 3397 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196811 123 2091 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196812 117 2208 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196901 88 2296 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196902 96 2392 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196903 79 2471 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196904 104 2575 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196905 110 2685 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196906 80 2765 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196907 93 2858 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Printed from databases on: 05/14/04
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