Helicopter UH-1D 64-13789

ACFT LANDED IN HIGH GRASS STRUCK 4 FT HIGH STUMP

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13789
Date: 06/11/66
Accident case number: F194
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 11474
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC HEPLER LJ
P ALLEN JD

Accident Summary:

ACFT LDG IN LZ CONGESTED WITH BODIES GUSTS CAUSED ACFT TO STRIKE SMALL TREE WHILE LOOKING FOR TOUCH DOWN SPOT GUSTY WINDS

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13789
The Army purchased this helicopter 0965
Total flight hours at this point: 00003353
Date: 07/09/69
Accident case number: 690709321 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 68 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Binh Hoa in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 10 . . Passengers = 7
costing 237504
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 HAMBLIN BF
P W1 TALBERT ME
CE E4 ARCENEAUX CP
G E3 HEARN DR

Passengers:
 , , G; E5 WA BEHRENS, PAX, D; O2 EA EASON, PAX, D; E4 JD LYONS, PAX, D; E4 RF CAMAYD, PAX, D; E4 DS DRESSEN, PAX, D; E4 JD BOYER, PAX, D;

Accident Summary:

 THE CREW PREFLIGHTED THEIR AIRCRAFT AT 0615 HOURS, 9 JULY 1969, AND FOUND NO DISCREPANCIES. THEY DEPARTED ON THEIR MISSION AT 0720 HOURS. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS WHEN AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 HOURS IT WAS GIVEN A MISSION CHANGE. IT WAS TO GO ON A SINGLE SHIP RESUP&LY MISSION EXTRACTING TROOPS OF THE 199TH LIGHT INF BDE. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOOK THE AIRCRAFT TO BLACKHORSE TO REFUEL. THEN HE PROCEEDED TO THE SINGLE SHIP PZ THAT HAD BEEN PREPARED BY THE 87TH CBT ENGR CO. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER MADE TWO LIFTS OUT OF THE PZ WITH FROM 1000 TO 1500 POUNDS OF CARGO AND PEOPLE ON BOARD EACH TIME. ON HIS THIRD APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AGAIN HAD NO TROUBLE. WHEN HE LANDED, 6 U. S. TROOPS (AVERAGE WEIGHT 175 LBS) AND THEIR ORGANIC EQUIPMENT WERE LOADED ON BOARD. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER MADE A 10 FOOT HIGH HOVER CHECK WITH 36 POUNDS OF TORQUE AT 6600 RPM, MADE A 180 DEG RIGHT PEDAL TURN AROUND THE MAST AND BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO A 2 FOOT HOVER. HE WAS UNABLE TO BRING IT TO THE GROUND BECAUSE OF THE SLOPE, FALLEN TREES AND SHRUBS. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THEN GAVE THE CONTROLS TO THE PILOT. AFTER ANOTHER SHORT BRIEFING BY THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AS TO THE CORRECT TAKE OFF PROCEDURES, HE INITIATED THE TAKE OFF. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER NOTICED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED A LITTLE SLUGGISH AND CHECKED THE TORQUE METER. THE PILOT WAS PULLING 38 POUNDS. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER PULLED IN 2 MORE POUNDS, AND THE AIRCRAFT WENT EASILY THROUGH TRANSLATIONAL LIFT. THE TAKE OFF ANGLE ESTABLISHED WAS SUCH THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE CLEARED ALL BARRIERS BY FROM 50 TO 100 FEET. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD THE CONTROLS, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS ALSO ON THE CONTROLS WITH HIM. AT APPROXIMATELY 100 TO 150 FEET AGL AND ABOUT 100 METERS OUT OF THE PZ, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND RPM, WITH NO NOTICEABLE YAW. THE LOW RPM AUDIO CAME ON AT 6300 RPM. BY THIS TIME, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER HAD ALREADY TAKEN OVER THE CONTROLS AND HAD SWERVED TO THE LEFT AS FAR AS THE TREES WOULD ALLOW. THEN HE MADE A HARD RIGHT CYCLIC AND PEDAL TURN IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE PZ. WHEN HE SAW HE COULD NOT MAKE IT, HE HEADED FOR THE LOWEST TREES. JUST PRIOR TO CONTACT, HE FLARED THE AIRCRAFT AND PULLED MAXIMUM PITCH. THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE AND THE 90 DEG GEAR BOX AND THE TAIL ROTOR SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD IN A SLIGHT NOSE LOW AND SLIGHT RIGHT BANK ATTITUDE WITH NO FORWARD SPEED. THE SKIDS COLLAPSED, AND THE TAIL BOOM, CARGO COMPARTMENT AND COCKPIT BUCKLED UNDER THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. A STUMP WAS DRIVEN UP THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE AIRCRAFT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER'S SEAT. AFTER THE INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE TREES, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK AT LEAST TWO LARGE DIAMETER TREES IN THE 30 FOOT VERTICAL DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT MADE BEFORE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND. THIS CONTACT ALL BUT DESTROYED ONE BLADE. THE TREE STRIKE ALSO CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE TORN FROM ITS MOUNTS FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND PILOT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND HELPED THE CREW AND PASSENGERS FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THOUGHT HE HEARD THE ENGINE STILL TURNING OVER SO HE WENT BACK INSIDE AND TURNED OFF THE BATTERY AND MAIN FUEL SWITCHES.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13789
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 0965.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

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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