Helicopter UH-1H 67-17371

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17371
The Army purchased this helicopter 0368
Total flight hours at this point: 00000579
Date: 10/11/1968
Accident case number: 681011161
Unit: 61 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Qui Nhon in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 74972
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 KYLE SM
P O2 CONWAY MA

Accident Summary:

The aircraft took off from LZ English enroute to LZ Uplift with the pilot on the controls. It was carrying the normal crew of four. Approximately 3 miles north of LZ Uplift, over a small mountain range, the aircraft commander noticed the rotor RPM dropping. It was passing through 300 when he took the controls. He noted at the time the engine RPM was holding steady at 6600. He immediately entered autorotation, and, though he made a 270 autorotative turn during the approximately 1100 feet to the ground, and a positive flare, the rotor RPM continued to decay. He touched down, into the wind, in a rice paddy, heading 040 degrees, with under 240 RPM. He used all remaining pitch and managed to cushion the landing somewhat

This record was last updated on 04/14/1999


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17371
The Army purchased this helicopter 0368
Total flight hours at this point: 00002325
Date: 09/27/1971
Incident number: 710927131ACD Accident case number: 710927131 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 187 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Di An in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 455945
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:
AC WO1 KARNEHM STEVEN DALE KIA
P CPT KINTARO JOHN JULLIANO KIA
CE SP4 CAMPOS LUIS HECTOR KIA
G SGT KUDLACEK EDWIN ALLEN INJ

Passengers:
O3 R GREENFIELD, FCO, G;


Accident Summary:

AT 1630 HOURS ON 27 SEPTEMBER 1971, A FLIGHT OF EIGHT (8) UH-1H HELICOPTERS LINED UP STAGGERED TRAIL (RIGHT) FOR A 270 DEGREE DEPARTURE FROM SONG BE AIRSTRIP. THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN RELEASED AT 1615 HOURS TO RETURN TO DI AN. THE COMMAND AND CONTROL SHIP HAD DEPARTED MINUTES BEFORE THE FLIGHT FOR THE EXPRESSED PURPOSE OF OBTAINING WEATHER INFORMATION, WHICH HE RELAYED TO THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. UPON DEPARTING, THE COMMAND AND CONTROL SHIP CALLED LEAD AND REPORTED 1000 FEET CEILING AND 1/2 TO 1 MILE VISIBILITY. LEAD ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKE OFF AND DEPARTED TURNING TO A 225 DEGREE HEADING. THE LEAD SHIP THEN ISSUED DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR INADVERTANT IFR BREAK-UP. APPROXIMATELY 1645, THE CEILING AND VISIBILITY FORCED THE LEAD SHIP DOWN TO 600 FEET INDICATED. IN THIS AREA THIS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET AGL. JUST PRIOR TO THE CRASH, SEVERAL OF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING DUE TO THE HEAVY RAIN AND POOR VISIBILITY. DURING THE PERIOD OF LIMITED VISIBILITY. DURING THE PERIOD OF LIMITED VISIBILITY, CHALK SIX WAS OBSERVED EXECUTING A STEEP RIGHT TURN FROM DIRECTLY BELOW CHALK FIVE. CHALK SIX WAS THEN OBSERVED AS IT STRUCK THE TREES WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE MAKING CONTACT FIRST. CHALK SIX MADE NO CALLS PRIOR TO THE STRIKE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BURST INTO FLAMES AS IT MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. A CALL WAS MADE TO THE LEAD AIRCRAFT FROM CHALK FIVE THAT AN AIRCRAFT HAD GONE DOWN. LEAD CALLED FOR A COUNT OF CHALKS AND RECEIVED SEVEN REPLYS INDICATING ALL THE AIRCRAFT WERE ACCOUNTED FOR. AFTER THE FLIGHT DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE CHALKS HAD ANSWERED TWICE, LEAD SPLIT THE FLIGHT TO INITIATE A SEARCH. THE LEAD SHIP WITH CHALKS 2, 3, AND 4 CONTINUED TO DI AN, AS THEY HAD CLEARED THE BAD WEATHER. CHALKS 5, 7, AND 8 THEN BEGAN A SEARCH, BUT WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE DOWNED AIRCRAFT DUE TO WEATHER. CHALKS 5, 7, AND 8 THEN PROCEEDED TO PHUOC VINH TO WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO CLEAR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF, THE WEATHER CLEARED AND THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND. ONE CREWMEMBER WAS OBSERVED STANDING NEAR THE WRECKAGE BUT THE HEIGHT OF THE TREES PREVENTED A LANDING. A MEDIVAC HELICOPTER HAD BEEN CONTACTED AND USING A JUNGLE PENETRATOR, RESCUED THE SURVIVOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS AFTER THE CRASH. THE BODIES OF THE OTHER CREWMEMBERS WERE RECOVERED ON 28 SEPTEMBER. DUE TO RAPIDLY DETERIORATING WEATHER ON THE 28TH, THE RECOVERY TEAM WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE CRASH SITE AND THE TACTICAL SITUATION PREVENTED FURTHER GROUND INSPECTION OR RECOVERY OF WRECKAGE PARTS.

This record was last updated on 09/20/1998


The following is crew member information for this incident:


Name: SP4 Luis Hector Campos (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/27/1971 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 22.5
Date of Birth: 04/13/1949
Home City: Meadow, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 187 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-027
Short Summary: Crashed in bad weather after being release from mission.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17371
SSN: 464847211
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 12/14/1970
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Phuoc Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT960580
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
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: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/24/1994


Name: SGT Edwin Allen Kudlacek (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/27/1971 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Died 1 days later on 09/28/1971.
Age at death: 20.4
Date of Birth: 05/19/1951
Home City: Omaha, NE
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 187 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-029
Short Summary: Crashed in bad weather after being release from mission.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17371
SSN: 508748929
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 01/09/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: non-hostile wounded or ill or injured - very serious
Length of service: *
Location: Phuoc Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT960580
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
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: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/28/1994


Name: WO1 Steven Dale Karnehm (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/27/1971 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 22.9
Date of Birth: 10/16/1948
Home City: Piqua, OH
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 187 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-33
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-028
Short Summary: Crashed in bad weather after being release from mission.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17371
SSN: 293446399
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/08/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Phuoc Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT960580
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 07/29/1995


Name: CPT John Julliano Kintaro
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/27/1971 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 29.4
Date of Birth: 04/24/1942
Home City: Pacific Island, XX
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 187 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 71-14
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-028
Short Summary: Crashed in bad weather after being release from mission.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17371
SSN: 308589269
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/15/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Phuoc Long Province III Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: XT960580
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Malayan
Relgion: Roman Catholic
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: officer
This record was last updated on 07/29/1995

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17371
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  45   45 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6805 103  148 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6806  81  229 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6807 105  334 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6808  95  429 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6809  97  526 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6810  53  579 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6811   0  579 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN     
6812   0  579 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6901   0  579 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN TRANSIT NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM         
6902   0  579 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
6903   0  579 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
6904   0  579 3300   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6905  68  647 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906  37  684 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907 100  784 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908  64  848 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909  62  910 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910  74  984 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  61 1045 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  61 1106 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  82 1188 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002  50 1238 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003  61 1299 WAB0C0 C TP 2-17 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004  27 1326 WE4HAA 142 TC DS        VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005   0 1326 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR  
7006   0 1326 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7007   0 1326 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7008   2 1328 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7009   1 1329 WHB1AA 166 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010 104 1433 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011 118 1551 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012 133 1684 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7101 101 1785 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7102 101 1886 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7103  92 1978 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7104  69 2047 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7105  49 2096 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7106  88 2184 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7107  47 2231 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7108  50 2281 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7109  44 2325 WDUTAA 187 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN