Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16637
The Army purchased this helicopter 0767
Total flight hours at this point: 00002009
Date: 09/22/1969
Accident case number: 690922211 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 135 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bear Cat in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 0
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:
P O2 MILLER DW
IP W2 KELLAN GE
Accident Summary:
AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN DISPATCHED TO MAKE A PASSENGER PICKUP AT SAIGON. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AT HOTEL 3 IN SAIGON AND PICKED UP TWO PASSENGERS; ONE WHOSE DESTINATION WAS BEARCAT, RVN, THE OTHER PASSENGER'S DESTINATION WAS LONG THANH NORTH. IT WAS DECIDED BY THE IP TO DROP OFF THE PASSENGER FOR LONG THANH FIRST, THEN THE PASSENGER FOR BEARCAT AND THEN BEGIN THE CHECK RIDE. THE FLIGHT FROM SAIGON TO LONG THANH NORTH WAS UNEVENTFUL WITH ALL INSTRUMENTS IN THE GREEN AND THE CONTROLS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. ON FINAL APPROACH TO LONG THANH NORTH, RUNWAY 23, AT 100 FEET AND APPROXIMATELY 40 KNOTS THE IP HEARD A "BANG" AND FELT A BUMPING IN HIS PEDALS. THE NOSE YAWED RIGHT INSTANTLY, MR. KELLAM BOTTOMED THE PITCH IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE AIRCRAFT TO STREAMLINE, HOWEVER, THE NOSE CONTINUED TO YAW TO THE RIGHT. JUST PRIOR TO GROUND CONTACT MR. KELLAM POPPED THE PITCH TO STOP THE HIGH RATE OF DESCENT, AND ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM SPINNING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD, BOUNCED TWICE AND CAME TO REST ON A HEADING OF 134 DEGREES. THE CREW EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT PROBLEM. THE PILOT'S DOOR WAS JAMMED SHUT SO LT MILLER ELECTED TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE "GREENHOUSE." HE DID SO BY CROUCHING ON HIS SEAT, THEN STANDING STRAIGHT UP, FORCING HIS HELMET THROUGH THE GREEN PLEXIGLASS. THE CREW AND TWO PASSENGERS WERE EVACUATION BY A PASSING HELICOPTER TO THE 24TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WERE CHECKED AND RELEASED.
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16637
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 0767.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6707 0 0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT IN TRANSIT AVCOMCTR 6708 0 0 3300 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6709 119 119 WGPQAA 335 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6710 74 193 WGPQAA 335 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6711 24 217 WGPQAA 335 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6712 58 275 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6801 112 387 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6802 104 491 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6803 108 599 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6804 118 717 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6805 116 833 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 62 895 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 81 976 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 72 1048 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 60 1108 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 54 1162 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 84 1246 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 48 1294 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 102 1396 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 68 1464 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 0 1464 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 0 1464 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 93 1557 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6906 102 1659 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6907 165 1824 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 131 1955 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 54 2009 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN