Helicopter UH-1H 68-15664

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15664
The Army purchased this helicopter 0569
Total flight hours at this point: 00001229
Date: 07/19/1970
Accident case number: 700719031
Unit: 129 AHC
The station for this helicopter was An Son in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 5555
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 JOBE JC

Accident Summary:

CANISTER CLUSTER TACTICAL C.S. 50LBS E-158R-2 BURSTED IN AIRCRAFT CARGO AREA CAUSING FIRE AC WAS WEARING A PROTECTIVE MASK AND LANDED A/C WITH OUT FURTHER DAMAGE.


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15664
The Army purchased this helicopter 0569
Total flight hours at this point: 00001788
Date: 03/03/1971
Accident case number: 710303011 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 129 AHC
The station for this helicopter was An Son in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . 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:
AC W1 BAXTER DO
P W1 PAGE A

Accident Summary:

AT APPROXIMATELY 0730 HOURS, THE CREW DEPARTED CAMP HOLLOWAY, PLEIKU, RVN, ON A DIRECT COMBAT SUPPORT MISSION. ENROUTE TO THE ^22ND ARVN^ (FORWARD), THEY STOPPED AT KONTUM TO PICK UP THREE PASSENGERS.THE FLIGHT FROM KONTUM TO BEN HET WAS CONDUCTED LOW LEVEL DUE TO HOSTILE ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN POSITIONS KNOWN TO BE ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS FLYING WHEN AN APPROACH TO THE NEARSIDE OF THE LANDING ZONE WAS INITIATED, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO ADJUST HIS APPROACH TO THE FARSIDE OF THE LANDING ZONE TO FACILITATE OBSTACLE CLEARENCE. WHEN THE PILOT ADJUSTED POWER TO ALLTER HIS APPROACH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND BOTH THE GUNNER AND CREW CHIEF OBSERVED THE TAIL ROTORSLOWING TO A HALT. THE SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF ANTI-TORQUE CONTROL CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER A RIGHT-HAND SPIN. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ROLLED THE THROTTLE TO THE FLIGHT IDLE POSITION TO HALT THE ROTATION. WITH AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 25 TO 30 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER LOWERED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO PRECLUDE ANY POSSIBILITY OF HAVING INSUFFICIENT CUSHIONING PITCH. DURING THE SPIN THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED OVER A DITCH LOCATED TO THE RIGGT SIDE OF THE HELIPAD. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ATTEMPTED TO CUSHION THE AIRCRAFT ONTO THE GROUND BUT THE AIRCRAFT HIT HARD ON THE LEFT SKID, WHICH WASUP-SLOPE, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE, AND ALLOWING THEMAIN ROTOR BLADE TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE THEN DEFORMED BLADES, CONTINUED ROTATING STRIKING THE TAILBOOM, SHIFTING IT, AND THE ENTIRE AIRCRAFT, SO THAT THE TAILBOOM CONTACTED AND ENGINEER STAKE, WHICH RESTRICTED FURTHER MOVEMENT. ALL PASSENGERS AND CREWMEMBERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. ATTEMPTS TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE FROM THE COCKPIT PROVED FUTILE, AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE WAS SUSPECTED, REQUIRING THE CREW TO MANUALLY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE.


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15664
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  62   62 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907 134  196 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908  95  291 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909 109  400 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910 102  502 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911 104  606 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  92  698 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  97  795 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002 103  898 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003  20  918 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004  82 1000 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005  90 1090 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7006  89 1179 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7007  50 1229 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7008  99 1328 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7009 127 1455 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010  87 1542 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011  31 1573 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012 100 1673 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7101   0 1673 WC3JAA 129 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7102 110 1783 WC3JAA 129 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7103   5 1788 WC5CAA 604TH TRANS CO   VIETNAM                     RVN