6717365

Helicopter 67-17365

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17365
The Army purchased this helicopter 0368
Total flight hours at this point: 00001068
Date: 02/10/69
Accident case number: 690210451 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 48 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Nha Trang in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 9 . . Passengers = 5
costing 244345
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC W1 SIEGEL KA
P W1 REGESTER RD
CE E4 OSBORNE CS
G E4 WHEELER SC

Passengers:
 E4 W WILLIAMS, PAX, D; E4 E HAMILTON, PAX, D; E6 V BAILEY, PAX, D; E4 J MILLER, PAX, D; E6 DW MANNING, PAX, D;


Accident Summary:

ON 10 FEB 1969^, A UH-1H AIRCRAFT, ^SN 67-17365^, AT ^1400 HOURS^ RECEIVED A MISSION TO INSERT A LONG RANGE RECON PATROL IN AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 17 N.M. SW OF ^PHU HIEP^. AT ^1430^ HOURS THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH THE SIX MEN ON THE PATROL AND A GUIDE. THERE WAS 1100 LBS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PICKED UP TO A HOVER AND A HOVER CHECK MADE. THE READING WAS 6600 RPM AT 38 LBS OF TORQUE. THE N1 IS UNKNOWN. AFTER TAKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER GAVE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO THE PILOT WHO FLEW TO THE A/O. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOOK CONTROL AND MADE A RECON AND APPROACH TO THE AREA, A BOMB CRATER, AT APPROXIMATELY ^1500^ HOURS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT TO A STABLE HOVER HEADING INTO THE WIND JUST ABOVE THE TREE TOPS AT 020 DEGREES. THE TREES WERE APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED FEET HIGH AND THE AREA WAS TO SMALL FOR THE AIRCRAFT TO DESCEND INTO. A HOVER CHECK WAS MADE. THE READING WAS 40 TO 42 LBS OF TORQUE AND THE RPM WAS HOLDING STEADY AT 6600. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOLD THE GUIDE AND TEAM LEADER TO USE THE ROPE LADDER THAT HAD BEEN PROVIDED BY THE TEAM IN THE EVENT A LANDING COULD NOT BE MADE. THE TEAM WAS PREPARING THE LADDER AND THE PILOT HAD TURNED AROUND TO INSURE THAT THE TEAM WAS FOLLOWING THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDERS ORDERS. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEGUN TO SETTLE. HE INCREASED PITCH TO 44 LBS, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE. HE TOLD THE GUIDE TO, "HURRY UP AND GET THEM OUT". AT THIS TIME THE RPM WARNING LIGHT AND AUDIO CAME ON AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER NOTED THE RPM HAD DECAYED TO 5800. HE ATTEMPTED TO GAIN SOME LIFT BY PUTTING IN FORWARD CYCLIC, BUT STOPPED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT WAS BELOW TREE TOP LEVEL. BOTH CREWCHIEF AND DOOR GUNNER, UNAWARE THAT RPM WAS BEING LOST, WERE TELLING THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THAT HE WAS NOT CLEAR TO COME DOWN ANY FURTHER. THE MAIN ROTOR BEGAN STRIKING TREES AND BRANCHES. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER RADIOED A DISTRESS CALL. THE MAIN ROTOR AND HEAD WERE TORN FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND THE TAIL BOOM CRACKED IN HALF. THE MAST WAS TORN FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK GROUND APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES FROM ITS HEADING WHILE AT A HOVER. THE AIRCRAFT HAD TURNED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DESCENDING. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDERS FRICTION LOCK ON HIS HARNESS DID NOT FUNCTION. THE PILOT USED HIS EMERGENCY DOOR RELEASE WHEN HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. ALTHOUGH THE PASSENGERS WERE NOT USING SEAT BELTS ONLY VERY SLIGHT INJURIES OCCURRED. ALL PERSONNEL EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER RETURNED TO USE THE RADIOS. HE WAS INFORMED THAT A FUEL CELL HAD RUPTURED AND JP-4 WAS LEAKING OUT IN THE CABIN. HE TURNED THE BATTERY AND ALL RADIOS OFF AND GOT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT AND CREWCHIEF PULLED THE RADIOS FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ALL PERSONNEL WERE MEDEVACED TO THE ^91ST MEDEVAC HOSPITAL^, TREATED AND RELEASED. THE CREW WAS RETURNED TO THE ^48TH AHC^ AND RELEASED FOR DUTY BY THE UNIT FLIGHT SURGEON.


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17365
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 0368.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6803   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
6804  83   83 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6805  91  174 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6806 141  315 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6807 116  431 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6808  96  527 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6809 127  654 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6810 103  757 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6811 105  862 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6812  97  959 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6901 109 1068 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870


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