Helicopter UH-1H 68-15238

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15238
The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00000526
Date: 05/05/1969
Accident case number: 690505041
Unit: 155 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Ban Me Thuot in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 1800
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 PORTER RL

Accident Summary:

IP WAS TEACHING STUDENT IP TO RECOVER AUTO WITH HIGH SINK RATE CAUSING HARD LDG ICDT DAM


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15238
The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00001771
Date: 05/13/1970
Accident case number: 700513231
Unit: 155 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Ban Me Thuot in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 38035
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W2 MENZEL RM
P W1 ROBINSON SM
CE E5 COOK JD
G E3 WHEATON GA

Accident Summary:

ON THE MORNING OF 13 MAY 70, A UH-1H, SERIAL NUMBER 68-15238, ASSIGNED TO THE 155TH AVN CO (AH) APO 96297, WAS PERFORMING A ROUTINE SUPPORT MISSION FOR THE 8TH CAV. HIS SECOND SORTY THAT MORNING WAS TO DELIVER A PASSENGER TO THE FIRE SUPPORT BASE AT CHU KAK, RVN. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDE HAD FLOWN THE SAME MISSION MANY TIMES IN THE PAST AND WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE LANDING AREA ON CHU KUK. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER RECEIVED CLEARANCE TO LAND FROM A US SOLDIER ON THE GROUND AT CHU KUK, HE DOD NOT RECEIVE WIND DIRECTION OR VELOCITY AND HE DID NOT ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION OR FOR SMOKE. THE PILOT HAD CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE FIRST APPROACH. JUST BEFORE SHORT FINAL THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND INFORMED THE PILOT HIS APPROACH WAS TOO SLOW. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER DID A 360 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT AND POSITIONED HIMSELF FOR ANOTHER APPROACH FROM THE WEST. CW2 MENZEL WAS AWARE OF HIS FAST CLOSING SPEED ON SHORT FINAL, AND IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID GOING OVER THE CLIFF AT THE EASTERN OF THE PAD HE USED A POWER FLAIR TO SLOW HIS GROUND SPEED. THIS UNUSUAL ATTITUDE OF TAIL LOW WHILE VERY CLOSE TO TOUCHDOWN ALLOWED THE TAIL ROTOR TO DIP INTO A TWO OR THREE FOOT HIGH LINE OF ROLLED BARBED WIRE ALONG THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE PAD. ONE STRAND OF THIS WIRE BECAME LODGED IN A BLADE OF THE TAIL ROTOR CAUSING THE OTHER END OF THAT STRAND TO BE WHIPPED THROUGH THE AIR AND AROUND THE MAIN TUBULAR STEEL SUPPORT INSIDE THE SYNC ELEVATOR CONTROL SURFACE. ONCE THIS SECTION OF WIRE WAS DRAWN TIGHT, THE ONE TAIL ROTOR BLADE WAS TORN FROM THE AIRCRAFT. A MOMENT LATER THE OTHER BLADE AND 90-DEGREE GEAR BOX WERE TORN LOOSE FROM THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING THE TAIL TO SWING QUICKLY TO THE LEFT IN AN UPSLOPE DIRECTION. THE STINGER CONTACTED THE GROUND HARD ENOUGH TO NOTICEABLY BEND THE STINGER UP AND TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER DOWNED THE COLLECTIVE AND APPLIED HARD LEFT CYCLIC TRYING TO REMAIN ON THE PINNACLE WHICH CAUSED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO SWING TO THE LEFT AND COME TO REST 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT OF ITS ORIGINAL HEADING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED VERY HARD WHILE DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT; IT REMAINED U-RIGHT AND DID NOT BURN. THE PASSENGER AND CREW ERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT QUICKLY.


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15238
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 1268.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6812   0    0 3300   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6901  61   61 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6902 117  178 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6903 127  305 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6904 105  410 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6905 116  526 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906 107  633 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907 112  745 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908 128  873 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909 102  975 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910  99 1074 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  91 1165 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  97 1262 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001 109 1371 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002  98 1469 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003 126 1595 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004 119 1714 WC7ZAA 155 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005  57 1771 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7006   0 1771 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR  
7007   0 1771 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7008   0 1771 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7009  14 1785 WC55AA 182 AVN CO       3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY       
7010  37 1822 WC55AA 182 AVN CO       3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY       
7011 121 1943 WC55AA 182 AVN CO       3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY        
7012  83 2026 WC55AA 182 AVN CO       3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY       
7101  19 2045 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7102   2 2047 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7103  47 2094 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7104  46 2140 WC55AA SUPPLY DIV       3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY        
7105  27 2167 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7106  32 2199 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7107  22 2221 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7108  21 2242 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7109  28 2270 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7110  18 2288 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7111  52 2340 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7112  10 2350 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7201   0 2350 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7202  24 2374 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7203  44 2418 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7204  37 2455 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7205  31 2486 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7206  35 2521 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7207  35 2556 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7208  24 2580 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7209  31 2611 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7210  41 2652 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7211  41 2693 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7212  26 2719 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7301  32 2751 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7302  24 2775 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7303  26 2801 WC55AA 182ND AVN CO LT  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY          
7304  19 2820 WC55AA 119TH AVN CO     3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY         
7305  26 2846 WC3JAA 129TH AVN CO     3RD ARMY   FT BRAGG         3RD ARMY       
7306   7 2853 WC3JAA 129TH AVN CO     3RD ARMY   FT BRAGG         3RD ARMY      
7307  28 2881 WC3JAA 129TH AVN CO     1ST ARMY   FT BRAGG         FORSCOM        
7308  24 2905 WC3JAA 129TH AVN CO     1ST ARMY   FT BRAGG         FORSCOM        
7309   3 2908 WC3JAA 129TH AVN CO     1ST ARMY   FT BRAGG         FORSCOM       
7310  20 2928 WC3JAA 129TH AVN CO     1ST ARMY   FT BRAGG         FORSCOM        
7311   0 2928 WC3JAA 129TH AVN CO     1ST ARMY   FT BRAGG         FORSCOM       
7312   0 2928 W0Y6AA NASA             LOAN       LANGLY RSH CTR   AVSCOM     
7401   0 2928 W0Y6AA NASA             LOAN       LANGLY RSH CTR   AVSCOM     
7402   0 2928 W0Y6AA NASA             LOAN       LANGLY RSH CTR   AVSCOM     
7403   1 2929 W0Y6AA NASA             LOAN       LANGLY RSH CTR   AVSCOM     
7404   1 2930 W0CEAA USA PAD          GERMANY                     EUROPE  
7405  23 2953 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7409  15 3040 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7410  18 3058 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7411   1 3059 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7412  10 3069 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7501  10 3079 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7502   2 3081 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7503  10 3091 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7504   8 3099 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7505  75 3174 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7506  10 3184 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7507  13 3197 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7509  38 3265 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7510  41 3306 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7511  10 3316 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE   
7512   6 3322 WARTAA 71ST AVN CO      GERMANY                     EUROPE