Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 62-04578
The Army purchased this helicopter 0963
Total flight hours at this point: 00003080
Date: 08/18/69
Unit: 48 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BP972824
Loss to Inventory
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 62-04578
The Army purchased this helicopter 0963
Total flight hours at this point: 00003080
Date: 08/18/69
Accident case number: 690818251 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 48 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Ninh Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 0
costing 244760
Crew Members:
AC W2 WIGGINS RH
P W1 MATTINGLY AB
Accident Summary:
3N 18 AUGUST 1969, A UH-1B AIRCRAFT, SN: 62-4578, WAS DEPARTING THE 48TH AVIATION COMPANY (ASSAULT HELICOPTER) ON A FIRE MISSION AT APPROXI-MATELY 1600 HOURS. THE AIRCRAFT, BEING A BRAVO MODEL GUN SHIP, HAD A FOUR MAN CREW, ONE OBSERVER, AND WAS FULLY ARMED UPON TAKE-OFF. A HOVER CHECK WAS MADE PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF WITH NO LOSS OF RPM AND ALL INSTRUMENTS READ NORMAL. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER INITIATED THE TAKE-OFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 5/ FEET AND 40 KNOTS, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER KNEW HE WAS TOO LOW TO AUTOROTATE. HE KEPT THE AIRCRAFT IN LEVEL ATTITUDE AND MAINTAINED HIS COLLECTIVE PITCH. THE AIRCRAFT, IT SEEMED TO THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, WAS GOING TO STRIKE A THREE FOOT DIKE. HE DECELERATED THE AIRCRAFT SLIGHTLY, WHICH WAS ENOUGH TO MISS THE DIKE. AT APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET FROM THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER PULLED REMAINING PITCH IN ORDER TO TRY AND CUSHION THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING; HOWEVER, DUE TO LOW RPM THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD. THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED UPRIGHT, AND THE CREW AND THE OBSERVER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE RADIO COMPARTMENT. A FIRE HAD ALSO STARTED APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 METERS TO THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. SEVERAL PERSONNEL FROM THE 48TH ARRIVED AND HELPED THE CREW AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE FIRE FIGHTING CREW ARRIVED AND ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THEIR EFFORTS TO SAVE THE AIRCRAFT PROVED FUTILE. THE TALL GRASS AROUND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN BURNING RAPIDLY, AND SOON ENGULFED THE AIRCRAFT IN FLAMES. EVERYONE WAS EVACUATED FROM THE AREA DUE TO THE AIRCRAFT BEING FULLY ARMED. THE CREW WAS TAKEN TO THE 48TH DISPENSARY WHERE ALL MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS ADMINISTERED. ALL PERSONNEL WERE RELEASED BY THE FLIGHT SURGEON.\\
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 62-04578
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 0963.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6610 41 1704 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6611 40 1744 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6612 69 1813 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6701 19 1832 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6702 55 1887 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6703 30 1917 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6704 25 1942 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6705 6 1948 WCLGAA 765 TRANS BN VIETNAM RVN 6706 96 2044 WCLGAA 765 TRANS BN VIETNAM RVN 6707 60 2104 WCLGAA 765 TRANS BN VIETNAM RVN 6708 35 2139 WCLGAA 765 TRANS BN VIETNAM RVN 6709 31 2170 WCLGAA 765 TRANS BN VIETNAM RVN 6710 70 2240 WCLGAA 765 TRANS BN VIETNAM RVN 6711 0 2240 WCLGAA 765 TRANS BN VIETNAM RVN 6712 0 2240 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6801 0 2240 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6802 0 2240 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6803 0 2240 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6804 0 2240 3300 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 43 2283 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 43 2326 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 37 2363 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 58 2421 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 107 2528 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 53 2581 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 46 2627 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 42 2669 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 54 2723 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 58 2781 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 46 2827 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 74 2901 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 99 3000 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6906 69 3069 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6907 11 3080 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 0 3080 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 0 3080 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6910 0 3080 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6911 36 3116 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN
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Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
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