6815681

Helicopter 68-15681

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15681
The Army purchased this helicopter 0569
Total flight hours at this point: 00000869
Date: 03/01/70
Incident number: 700301111ACD Accident case number: 700301111 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 48 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Ninh Hoa in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 305145
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P CW2 LEITCH LARRY DUANE KIA
P O2 HILLARD RG
CE E4 FORSBERY CM
G E4 MOULTON RA

Accident Summary:

THE AIRCRAFT WAS TAKING PART IN COMBAT ASSAULT OPERATIONS INVOLVING THE 9TH ROK DIVISION. THE MISSION INVOLVED TRANSPORTING TROOPS FROM THE PZ AT SEA LEVEL TO THE LZ AT COORDINATED BP 592 430, A MOUNTAINSIDE 3,500 FEET IN ELEVATION. THE AIRCRAFT MADE ITS APPROACH TO A HOVER WITH 6 KOREAN TROOPS ON BOARD. THE LZ WAS ON A SLOPE AND WAS COVERED WITH LARGE ROCKS AND SMALL TREES. THE PILOTS ELECTED TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT AT A 3 TO 4 FOOT HOVER TO UNLOAD THE TROOPS. ACCORDING TO WITNESS STATEMENTS, FROM THE CREW CHIEF AND DOOR GUNNER, THE CREW CHIEF TOLD THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, WHO HAD THE CONTROLS, TO BRING THE TAIL UP TO AVOID HITTING SOME ROCKS. AS THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO RISE, THE N2 STARTED BLEEDING OFF AND THE NOSE STARTED SWINGING TO THE RIGHT, WHICH THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS UNABLE TO STOP WITH LEFT PEDAL. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER GAVE THE CONTROLS TO HIS PILOT, WHO WAS THE MORE EXPERIENCED OF THE TWO PILOTS. THE PILOT ELECTED TO SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN TO STOP THE SPINNING. AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND AND PART OF IT ENTERED THE COCKPIT KILLING THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER. THE HELICOPTER THEN FLIPPED OVER ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE AND BEGAN TO BURN. IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THE POST-CRASH FIRE.


Name: CW2 Larry Duane Leitch (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 03/01/70 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.9
Date of Birth: 04/24/47
Home City: Grand Ledge, MI
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 48 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-3
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-071
Short Summary: Lost power in LZ 2 on CA insertion - rotor blade hit boulders in LZ & whipped thru greenhouse hitting Leitch in head breaking neck.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 68-15681
SSN: 376460147
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: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 04/22/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.

Additional information about this casualty:
PAT EWINS CREW CHIEF AND DOOR GUNNER CARRIED LARRY LEITCH OUT OF HIS AIRCRAFT WITH A BROKEN NECK. LZ 2 WAS WEST OF CAM RAHN BAY. LARRY WAS AIRCRAFT COMMANDER. INFORMATION FROM PAT EWINS, 3932 RILEY, HOUSTON, TX 77004. TEL 713-666-066

Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married 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 07/28/94


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15681
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 0569.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6905   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
6906  13   13 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907 139  152 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908 138  290 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909 105  395 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910 153  548 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911 126  674 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  26  700 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  90  790 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002  79  869 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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