Helicopter UH-1C 65-09439

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 65-09439
Date: 06/27/66
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was in Bank Left at 0500 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE, MAIN ROTOR SYS
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P1, 00347, FM48 ()

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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number


The Army purchased this helicopter 0166
Total flight hours at this point: 00000202
Date: 10/25/66
Accident case number: G894
Unit: ARMY CONCEPT TEAM IN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 1200 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Passenger Cargo Section
Systems damaged were: FLT CONTROLS, STRUCTURE
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
for 100.00
costing 100
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: UH1P1, 00763, FM232, CRAFX (Crash Facts Message. )

Crew Members:
AC MADDEN FM

Accident Summary:

DURING NITE SURVEILLANCE MSN ACFT RECD ROUND SMALL ARMS FIRE IN BTM AND TOP CARGO COMPT


War Story:
This was the first aircraft I crewed, and the first round I had hit my aircraft. For what it's worth I was the Crewchief on the December 25, 1966 mission. We were a group called the Batmen with the Army Concept Team. If memory serves correctly we had 5 ships assigned to us. Our primary purpose, as I remember, was to test the Westinghouse Low Level Light TV (LLLTV). We also had an early form of doppler navigation. I believe the head of the Batmen was Major William Lax. What this report doesn't say is we took the round at night. It sliced halfway through the link under the floor panel, went through the panel and roof, and glanced off the rotor head. Had it been a little bit forward, I expect things would have gotten a bit intense. Don't know if it's any interest to you but here is a picture of the Batmen and 65-9439. The full size picture is attached. The civilian down front is the Westinghouse Rep. from: Lonnie Upshaw at loupshaw@vvm.com

This record was last updated on 01/25/03

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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 65-09439
The Army purchased this helicopter 0166
Total flight hours at this point: 00002284
Date: 04/13/70
Unit: 68 AVN
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YS042778
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 65-09439
The Army purchased this helicopter 0166
Total flight hours at this point: 00002284
Date: 04/13/70
Accident case number: 700413341 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 68 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 4 . . Passengers = 0
costing 244415
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W2 HARBERSON WE
P W1 SMITH HE
CE E5 YOUTSEY JL
G E4 JORDON RL

Accident Summary:

 AT ABOUT 0600 HOURS ON 13 APRIL 1970, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER HARBERSON AND HIS CREW PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND RUN-UP OF AIRCRAFT 65-9439. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. THE AIRCRAFT MADE TAKE-OFF AT 0730 HOURS TO RENDEZVOUS WITH ELEMENTS OF THE 128TH AVIATION COMPANY. THE GUNSHIP WAS TO BE PART OF A FIRETEAM SUPPLYING COVER FOR COMBAT ASSAULT OPERATIONS IN THE AREA EAST OF SAIGON. OPERATIONS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE MORNING WITH NO APPARENT TROUBLE WITH THE AIRCRAFT. SHORTLY AFTER LUNCH, THE UH-1C WAS TEAM LEADER OF A LIGHT FIRE TEAM CONDUCTING A LOW-LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE OF A PICK-UP ZONE. CW2 HARBERSON WAS FLYING THE LOW AIRCRAFT. THE AREA OF RECONNAISSANCE WAS TYPICAL LOW TIDAL LANDS DENSELY COVERED WITH NIPPA PALM NEAR COORDINATES YS 0397709 AT 1420 HOURS THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT 100 FEET AND 80 KNOTS. CW2 HARBERSON HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED THE TORQUE METER FREEZE AT 50 POUNDS OF TURQUE. THE ENGINE FAILED, AND HE IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AN AUTOROTATION. THE AUTORROTATION WAS EXECUTED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT HIT HARD, SKIDDED ABOUT 50 FEET, AND ROLLED ON THE LEFT SIDE AS IT CAME TO A FINAL STOP. ALL PERSONNEL EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE ENROUTE TO THE 93RD EVACUATION HOSPITAL IN LONG BIEN WITHIN TEN MINUTES AFTER THE CRASH.\\

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The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 65-09439
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 0166.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
196610  26  202 W0QPAA CONCEP TEAM VIE  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196611  23  225 W0QPAA CONCEP TEAM VIE  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196612  37  262 3422   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196701  29  291 3422   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196702  43  334 3422   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196703  74  408 3422   POST SUPPLY      6TH ARMY   FORT ORD         6TH ARMY
196704  28  436 3422   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196705  92  528 3422   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196706  49  577 3422   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
196707  54  631 3422   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
196708  13  644 3422   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196709   2  646 3422   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196710   0  646 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196711  15  661 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196712  63  724 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196801  67  791 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196802  64  855 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196803  47  902 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196804  71  973 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196805  85 1058 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196806  76 1134 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196807  68 1202 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196808  54 1256 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196809 104 1360 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196810  61 1421 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196811  72 1493 WDUXAA 191 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196812   0 1493 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
196901   0 1493 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN TRANSIT NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM   
196902   0 1493 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM   
196903   0 1493 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM   
196904   0 1493 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM   
196905   1 1494 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM   
196906  62 1556 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196907  89 1645 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196908  67 1712 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196909  26 1738 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196910 150 1888 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196911  52 1940 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196912  83 2023 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
197001  88 2111 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
197002  90 2201 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
197003  83 2284 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
197004   0 2284 WFQ8AA 165 TC DS 34 GP  VIETNAM                     RVN     

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Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 05/14/04

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