AT APPROXIMATELY ^1600 ON 18 JANUARY 1969^, AIRCRAFT ^UH-1H SN 67-17463^ WAS CALLED UPON TO PERFORM A MED-EVAC MISSION BY A UNIT OF THE ^51ST ARVN^ REGIMENT. AN APPROACH WAS INITIATED TO THE TACTICAL LZ ^(BT 055545)^ TO THE SOUTHWEST DUE TO REPORTED CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY TO THE SOUTH AND WEST OF THE AREA. THE FLIGHT CREW HAD INTENDED TO MAKE THEIR TAKE-OFF TO THE EAST. ABOUT THE TIME LOADING WAS COMPLETED THE PILOT HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FIRE TO THE SOUTHEAST AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HIS TAKE-OFF TO THE SOUTHWEST, THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADED DURING LOADING. AT APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET AND WITH AN AIRSPEED OF 10 TO 15 KNOTS THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND BEGAN TO SETTLE. THE LEFT SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR STRUCK A TREE LIMB DURING THE DESCENT AND APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT OF THE OUTBOARD PORTION WAS TORN AWAY. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE RIGHT SKID LANDED ON A LOG BENDING THE SKID AND DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CROSSTUBE ATTACHING POINTS. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES FLEXED DOWN AND STRUCK A MACHINE GUN AND MOUNT ON AN APC MOVING THROUGH THE AREA DAMAGING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND CAUSING SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE ROTOR SYSTEM. DUE TO THE LOW AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE WHEN POWER LOSS WAS EXPERIENCED THE CHOICE OF LANDING AREA WAS LIMITED TO THE IMMEDIATE AREA AHEAD OF THE AIRCRAFT. INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE INLET AREA INDICATED THAT ENGINE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17463
The Army purchased this helicopter 0468
Total flight hours at this point: 00001325
Date: 02/11/1970
Accident case number: 700211251 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: D/1/1 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 11
costing 244345
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 ANDERSON DF
P W1 BOYLE W
CE E4 BOSON CP
G E4 JURCIA TW
Passengers:
E3 AW WOLFORD, PAX, G;
O2 JS GADEL, PAX, G;
E5 M ESTES, PAX, D;
E4 R WILLIAMS, PAX, G;
GADEL, PAX, G;
E4 JR WRAY, PAX, G;
E3 JA NEVILLE, PAX, G;
NEVILLE, PAX, G;
WATKINS, PAX, G;
E5 RL TUCKER, PAX, G;
TUCKER, PAX, G;
Accident Summary:
AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN ITS MISSION AS A RECOVERY AIRCRAFT FOR A VISUAL RECONNAISSANCE TEAM. THE CARGO INCLUDED SEVEN INFANTRYMEN. THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT SHUT DOWN SINCE TAKEOFF AND HAD STOPPED FOR REFUELING ONCE AT QUANG NGAI. THE HELICOPTER WAS RETURNING TO CHU LAI AND WAS ON A DOWN-WIND FOR LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE UH-1H WAS FLYING AT 300 FEET AND 80 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS AT THE CONTROLS WHEN THE HELICOPTER VIOLENTLY BANKED LEFT AND ASSUMED A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. BOTH ^WO1 ANDERSEN^ AND ^WO1 BOYLE^ ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE AIRCRAFT TO A NORMAL ATTITUDE WITH THE CYCLIC, BUT IT APPEARED TO HAVE NO EFFECT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THEN INCREASED COLLECTIVE PITCH WHICH MEMENTARILY BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT INTO A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE HELICOPTER THEN PITCHED TO THE RIGHT AND AGAIN THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A LEVEL ATTITUDE BUT WAS TAIL LOW. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT THE HELICOPTER AGAIN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT IN THE WATER IN THIS ATTITUDE.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17463
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 0468.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196804 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 196805 1 1 9221 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196806 44 45 WFJGAA 282 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196807 87 132 WFJGAA 282 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196808 108 240 WFJGAA 282 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196809 95 335 WFJGAA 282 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196810 84 419 WFJGAA 282 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196811 85 504 WFJGAA 282 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196812 68 572 WFJGAA 282 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196901 58 630 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 196902 0 630 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 196903 0 630 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 196904 52 682 WACYAA D TRP 1SQ 1 CAV VIETNAM RVN 196905 82 764 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 196906 87 851 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 196907 79 930 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 196908 104 1034 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 196909 42 1076 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 196910 67 1143 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 196911 42 1185 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 196912 55 1240 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 197001 39 1279 WACYD0 D 111 CV AMD VIETNAM RVN 197002 46 1325 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN
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Printed from databases on: 05/31/2005
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