Helicopter OH-6A 67-16641

Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16641
The Army purchased this helicopter 0269
Total flight hours at this point: 00000279
Date: 06/17/1969
Unit: B/1/9 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Unarmed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0040 feet and 070 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: STRUCTURE
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: LNOF, 90753, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16641
The Army purchased this helicopter 0269
Total flight hours at this point: 00000279
Date: 06/29/1969
Incident number: 690629151ACD Accident case number: 690629151 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/1/9 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Quan Loi in
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 205569
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
P WO1 MEFFORD HARRELL SAMUEL KIA
CE E4 VOLLINK HD
G E4 BEST GA

Accident Summary:

AIRCRAFT 641 WAS READIED AND ARMED FOR A SCOUT MISSION AT APPROXIMATELY 0700 HOURS, BY THE CREW CHIEF AND GUNNER. THE PILOT ATTENDED A MISSION BRIEFING AND PERFORMED A FLIGHT READINESS INSPECTION. ONCE THIS WAS COMPLETED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS STARTED AND CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF BY APACHE TOWER. AT TAKE-OFF, THE AIRCRAFT CARRIED A CREW OF PILOT, CREW CHIEF, DOOR GUNNER, AND OBSERVER/DOOR GUNNER. THE ARMAMENT CONSISTED OF THREE PERSONAL SIDE ARMS, ONE M-60 MACHINE GUN WITH 1200 ROUNDS, ONE M-79 WITH 15 ROUNDS, ONE M-16WITH ONE 20 ROUND MAGAZINE, 10 SMOKE GRENADES, SIX WP GRENADES, AND APPROXIMATELY 120 POUNDS OF FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED APACHE PAD AT APPROXIMATELY 0754 HOURS WITH CLEARANCE TO ENTER TAY NINH WEST TRAFFIC ON A RIGHT BASE, LANDING RUNWAY 20 FOR POL. WITHIN ONE TO TWO MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT CALLED APACHE TOWER AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. A LOUD NOSE WAS HEARD IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA DURING THE APPROACH. DURING FINAL THE PILOT ENTERED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL APPROACH. PRIOR TO TERMINATION THE PILOT INSTRUCTED THE CREW TO HANG ON TIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 FEET AND 10 TO 15 KNOTS AIRSPEED, THE AIRCRAFT SPUN TO THE LEFT 360 DEG AND IMPACTED ON THE RIGHT SKID IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. ABOUT THE TIME OF INITIAL IMPACT, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO TURN TO THE LEFT FOR 180 DEG COMING TO REST 9 FEET FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. A 1/8 TO 4/4 INCH IMPRESSION WAS FOUND INDICATING THE AIRCRAFT STAYED WITHIN GROUND CONTACT, AFTER INITAIL CONTACT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO FULL STOP RESTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BELLY AND TAIL STINGER WITH APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET OF MAIN ROTOR CLEARANCE ABOVE THE GROUND. AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A FULL STOP, THE OBSERVER, LOCATED IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT. THE CREW CHIEF, LOCATED ON THE RIGHT REAR SEAT, EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT ALSO. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE BATTERY AND CLOSED THE THROTTLE TO THE FULL OFF POSITION. ONCE THIS WAS DONE, HE EXITED TO THE RIGHT IN GREAT HASTE AND WAS STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND THROWN APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET. THE CREW CHIEF AND OBSERVER WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT DIED OF INJURIES RECEIVED FROM THE BLADE STRIKE.\\

This record was last updated on 05/25/1998

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Harrell Samuel Mefford
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 06/29/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 19.6
Date of Birth: 12/05/1949
Home City: Irvine, KY
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/1/9 CAV 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 69-1
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 21W-034
Short Summary: Tail rotor failure at Tay Ninh middle of day-apache pad. He got everyone out of A/C but was hit by main rotor blade as he exited.
Aircraft: OH-6A tail number 67-16641
SSN: 402745715 Service number: W3162736
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: weapons
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 04/06/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 01
Location: Tay Ninh Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 08/20/1995

Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16641
The Army purchased this helicopter 0269
Total flight hours at this point: 00000980
Date: 12/27/1972
Unit: D/17 CAV
South Vietnam
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

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16641
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 0269.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
196902   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
196903  18   18 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN STORAGE SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
196904  37   55 WAGTB0 TRPB1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196905 111  166 WAGTB0 TRPB1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196906 113  279 WAGTB0 TRPB1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196907   0  279 WAGTB0 TRPB1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196908   0  279 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
196909   0  279 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
196910   0  279 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
196911   0  279 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN STORAGE SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
196912   0  279 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN STORAGE SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
197001   0  279 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
197002   0  279 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
197003   0  279 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM   
197004   0  279 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM   
197005   0  279 W0ZGAA HUGHES ACFT      BAILMENT   CULVER CITY      AVCOM   
197006   0  279 W0ZGAA HUGHES ACFT      BAILMENT   CULVER CITY      AVCOM   
197007   0  279 W0ZGAA HUGHES ACFT      BAILMENT   CULVER CITY      AVCOM   
197008   0  279 W0ZGAA HUGHES ACFT      BAILMENT   CULVER CITY      AVCOM   
197009   0  279 W0ZGAA HUGHES ACFT      BAILMENT   CULVER CITY      AVCOM   
197010   0  279 W0ZGAA HUGHES ACFT      BAILMENT   CULVER CITY      AVCOM   
197011   0  279 W0ZGAA HUGHES ACFT      BAILMENT   CULVER CITY      AVCOM   
197012   0  279 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVCOM   
197101   1  280 W0MHAA DIR DIST  TRANS  IN MAINT   SHARPE AD        AVSCOM  
197102   1  281 W0MHAA DIR FOR MAINT    6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVSCOM  
197103   0  281 W0MHAA DIR FOR MAINT    6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVSCOM  
197104   0  281 W0MHAA DIR FOR MAINT    6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        AVSCOM  
197105   1  282 WHB1AA 166 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
197106  51  333 WHB1AA 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197107  73  406 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197108 106  512 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197109  80  592 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197110  28  620 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197111  23  643 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197112  34  677 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197201   8  685 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197202  35  720 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197203   0  720 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197204  20  740 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197205   2  742 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197206  14  756 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197207   9  765 WACYD0 D TRP 1SQ 17 AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197208  22  787 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197209  20  807 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197210  71  878 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197211  58  936 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197212  44  980 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush

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Printed from databases on: 05/31/2005

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