ON ^3 JAN 69^ UH-1H ^66-16214^ WAS WORKING A COMBAT ASSAULT MISSION ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE FLIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY ^100^ HRS THE FLIGHT HAD LANDED AT ^TAN AN^ TO REFUEL. UPON COMPLETION OF REFUELING THE LEAD AIRCRAFT REPOSITIONED IN THE AREA ADJACENT TO THE REFUELING PADS, KNOWN AS THE ^"NORTH FORTH"^ UH-1H ^66-16214^ WAS TRAIL SHIP IN A FORMATION OF FIVE. DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE WATER, ROUGH TERRAIN, AND NUMEROUS CLAYMORE MINES ON TWO OR THREE FOOT STAKES, IT IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A FAIRLY HIGH HOVER IN THAT AREA. THE LEAD AIRCRAFT WAS HOLDING JUST SUCH A HOVER FROM 15 TO 20 FEET, THUS NECESSITATING THE OTHER AIRCRAFT TO HOLD A HIGHER HOVER, EACH IN TURN, IN ORDER TO REMAIN ABOVE THE ROTOR WASH OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE FLIGHT. UH-1H, ^66-16214^ WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING INTO POSITION AS TRAIL SHIP WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER STATED THAT HE HEARD AN "EXPLOSION" COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT SWUNG TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER IMMEDIATELY ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE PILOT, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLIED RIGHT PEDAL. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE, REDUCED PARTIAL COLLECTIVE, THEN PULLED IN THE COLLECTIVE ALL THE WAY. BY THIS TIME, THE AIRCRAFT HAD DESCENDED TO THE POINT OF BEING IN THE NUMBER FOUR AIRCRAFT'S ROTOR WASH, SUBSEQUENTLY CONTINUED TO THE GROUND. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING 280 DEGREES PRIOR TO THE MISHAP, AND 205 DEGREES UPON IMPACT; A LEFT TURN OF 75 DEGREES DURING THE DESCENT. THE EXISTING WEATHER AT ^TAN AN^ AS RECORDED BY THE TOWER, WAS WIND VARIABLE FROM THE NORTHWEST (NO HEADING IN DEGREES GIVEN) AT 5 KNOTS ALTIMETER 29.86 AND DENSITY ALTITUDE PLUS 2025'. THE ONLY INSTRUMENT EITHER PILOT RECALLS MONITORING WAS THE RPM, WHICH THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER STATED WAS PASSING THROUGH 6300 WHEN HE NOTICED IT. DURING THE INVESTIGATION AT THE SCENE, THE COWLING WAS REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE AREA. AN INSPECTION WAS MADE OF THE SHORT SHAFT, FLUID LEVELS, AIR INTAKES, PLENUM CHAMBER, ENGINE OIL FILTER AND OVERALL SURFACE AREA OF THE ENGINE. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT, 42 DEGREES GEAR BOX AND 90 DEGREE GEAR BOX WERE ALSO INSPECTED. THE BLEED BANDS APPEARED NORMAL IN A STATIC CONDITION. THE ENGINE OIL FILTER APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. THE COMPRESSOR AND POWER TURBINE WERE BOTH FREE. FUEL SAMPLES WERE TAKEN FROM THE POL POINT NUMBER EIGHT WHERE ^16214^ HAD JUST COMPLETED REFUELING, AND FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THESE SAMPLES HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE ^12TH GROUP^ FOR ANALYSIS. NO FINDINGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT THIS TIME.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16214
The Army purchased this helicopter 0367
Total flight hours at this point: 00002358
Date: 04/12/70
Accident case number: 700412111 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 68 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 244345
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
AC W1 RIVETT DA
P W1 WADE MG
CE E4 VENT MJ
G E4 KUNEMAN DJ
Accident Summary:
AIRCRAFT UH-1H, 66-16214 DEPARTED BIEN HOA AT 0815 HOURS, FLEW TO XUAN LOC TO PICK UP GROUND TROOPS FOR A COMBAT ASSAULT INTO AN LZ AT YT 577334. IT WAS FLYING NUMBER 3 SLOT IN A FLIGHT OF FOUR. THE FIRST LIFT WAS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY INTO A FOUR SHIP LZ APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET IN LENGTH AND 75 FEET WIDE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN RETURNED TO DINH QUAN TO PICK UP PERSONNEL FOR A SECOND LIFT INTO THE SAME LZ. THE APPROACH WAS MADE FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST ALONG THE LONG AXIS OF THE LZ. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM THE SE (140 DEG) AT APPROXIMATELY 6 KNOTS. DUE TO HIGH TREES ALL AROUND THE LZ, WIND ON THE GROUND WAS NEGLIGIBLE (LESS THAN 3 KNOTS). THE LZ WAS COVERED WITH LOW GRASS (APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES) AND SCATTERED BUSHES APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET HIGH. THREE OF WHICH WERE IN A 30 FOOT RADIUS OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE COPILOT MADE THE APPROACH INTO THE LZ. DUE TO HIS INEXPERIENCE, HE REQUIRED SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER. SHORTLY BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE COPILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT ALOWLY TO THE RIGHT, SIMULTANEOUSLY ALLOWING THE TAIL TO SWING RIGHT SLIGHTLY. THE AIRCRAFT ROUCHED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES FROM A TREE STUMP APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES HIGH. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER CAUTIONED THE PILOT ON THE HAZARDS OF ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT. GROUND TROOPS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT, NUMBER ONE AND TWO AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LZ, NUMBER THREE STILL FLOWN BY THE COPILOT PICKED UP TO A HOVER, AGAIN DIIFTED RIGHT, SIMULTANEOUSLY ALLOWING THE TAIL TO DRIFT RIGHT SLOWLY. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOLD THE COPILOT TO STABALIZE THE AIRCRAFT, IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE RIGHT SKID CONTACTED AND STUCK ONTO THE STUMP MENTIONED ABOVE. THE COPILOT APPLIED FULL LEFT CYCLIC AND ADDED POWER AS THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ROLL RIGHT. BY THIS TIME, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN AN IRRECOVERABLE ATTITUDE AND CONTINUED TO ROLL RIGHT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES CONTRACTED THE GROUND, DESTROYING BOTH BLADES AND SEPARATING THE TRANSMISSION. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, AND ALL PERSONNEL EXITED THROUGH THE LEFT CARGO DOOR.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16214
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 0367.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196703 0 0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 196704 1 1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 196705 0 1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 196706 11 12 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196707 138 150 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196708 116 266 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196709 85 351 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196710 93 444 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196711 131 575 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196712 108 683 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196801 102 785 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196802 61 846 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196803 0 846 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196804 56 902 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196805 63 965 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196806 35 1000 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196807 8 1008 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196808 122 1130 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196809 155 1285 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196810 102 1387 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196811 97 1484 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196812 71 1555 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196901 0 1555 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 196902 0 1555 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196903 0 1555 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196904 0 1555 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 196905 0 1555 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 196906 0 1555 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 196907 0 1555 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 196908 0 1555 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 196909 14 1569 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196910 151 1720 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196911 131 1851 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196912 111 1962 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 197001 155 2117 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 197002 89 2206 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 197003 152 2358 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 197004 0 2358 WFQ8AA 165 TC DS 34 GP VIETNAM RVN 197005 0 2358 WFQ8AA 165 TC DS 34 GP VIETNAM RVN 197006 45 2403 WHB1AA 166 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 197007 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197008 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197009 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197010 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197011 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197012 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197101 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 197102 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 197103 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 197104 0 2403 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 197105 7 2410 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 197106 12 2422 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 197107 5 2427 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 197108 39 2466 W0MUAA 8TH SQ AIR CAV 1ST ARMY FORT KNOX 1ST ARMY 197109 23 2489 W0MUAA 8TH SQ AIR CAV 1ST ARMY FORT KNOX 1ST ARMY 197110 17 2506 W0MUAA 8TH SQ AIR CAV 1ST ARMY FORT KNOX 1ST ARMY 197111 56 2562 W0MUAA 8TH SQ AIR CAV 1ST ARMY FORT KNOX 1ST ARMY 197112 17 2579 W0MUAA 8TH SQ AIR CAV 1ST ARMY FORT KNOX 1ST ARMY 197201 18 2597 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WOLTERS 5TH ARMY 197202 16 2613 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WOLTERS 5TH ARMY 197203 35 2648 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WOLTERS 5TH ARMY 197204 15 2663 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WOLTERS 5TH ARMY 197205 26 2689 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WOLTERS 5TH ARMY 197206 8 2697 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WOLTERS 5TH ARMY 197207 44 2741 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WOLTERS 5TH ARMY 197208 24 2765 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197209 29 2794 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197210 43 2837 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197211 56 2893 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197212 10 2903 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197301 29 2932 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197302 48 2980 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197303 11 2991 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197304 18 3009 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197305 35 3044 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197306 34 3078 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS 5TH ARMY 197307 19 3097 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS TRADOC 197308 26 3123 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS TRADOC 197309 16 3139 W2NGAA USA MED DET ACT 5TH ARMY FORT WALTERS TRADOC 197310 12 3151 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197311 28 3179 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197312 18 3197 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197401 10 3207 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197402 26 3233 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197403 30 3263 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197404 30 3293 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197405 16 3309 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197409 10 3408 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197410 13 3421 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197411 7 3428 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197412 19 3447 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197501 23 3470 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197502 0 3470 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197503 0 3470 W01LAA USAS TEST EVAL 6TH ARMY FORT HUACHUCA ASA 197504 0 3470 W0MUAA DIR OF SUPPLY IN MAINT CORPUS CH AD AVSCOM 197505 0 3470 W0MUAA DIR OF SUPPLY IN MAINT CORPUS CH AD AVSCOM 197506 0 3470 W0MUAA DIR OF SUPPLY IN MAINT CORPUS CH AD AVSCOM 197507 0 3470 W0MUAA DIR OF SUPPLY IN MAINT CORPUS CH AD AVSCOM 197509 2 3472 W0MUAA SUPPLY DIV 5TH ARMY FORT KNOX TRADOC 197510 14 3486 WXFVAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 197511 5 3491 WXFVAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 197512 14 3505 WXFVAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
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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