Helicopter UH-1H 68-16261

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16261
The Army purchased this helicopter 0969
Total flight hours at this point: 00000268
Date: 02/11/1970
Accident case number: 700211301
Unit: D/2/1 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Phan Thiet in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 3 . . Passengers = 3
costing 97963
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC O3 CHASSE PA
P O4 FRAZEE JB
CE E4 ALEXANDER ML
G E5 CLACK E

Passengers:
E5 LK KING, PAX, D; E4 LE SMITH, PAX, D; E3 R NUNNALY, PAX, D;


Accident Summary:

ON 11 FEBRUARY 1970, AT APPROXIMATELY 1900 HOURS UH-1H #68-16261; BEING FLOWN BY CAPTAIN CHASES, AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, AND MAJOR FRAZEE, PILOT, EXPERIENCED POSSIBLE SEVERE COMPRESSOR STALL AND PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON CLIMB OUT FROM A FIRE SUPPORT BASE LOCATED VICINITY OF AN 791 435 RVN. ON CLIMB OUT FROM THE FIRE SUPPORT BASE AND AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 FEET, A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD ACCOMPANIED BY A YAWING TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. A DEGRADATION IN ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM WAS NOTED BY THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND PILOT. ENGINE AND ROTOR RPM CONTINUED TO DECAY WITH THE RESULTANT ACTIVATION OF THE VISUAL AND LOW RPM AUDIO WARNING. A REDUCTION OF POWER DID NOT CORRECT THIS SITUATION. COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS REDUCED AND THE PILOT, MAJOR FRAZEE, ENTERED AUTOROTATION. AT THIS TIME MAJOR FRAZEE NOTICED ROTOR RPM WAS INCREASING AND THAT ENGINE RPM WAS DECREASING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLARED TO ZERO AIRSPEED ABOVE SCRUB TREES AND THICK UNDERBRUSH. THE THROTTLE WAS ROLLED OFF TO FLIGHT IDLE AND COLLECTIVE PITCH WAS APPLIED AS THE AIRCRAFT GENTLY SETTLED TO THE GROUND. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUSTAINED BECUASE OF STUMPS PENETRATING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, TREE STRIKES BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES, AND BRUSH STRIKES BY THE TAIL ROTOR. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON A HEADING OF 260 DEGREES AND TILTED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT DUE TO A STUMP THAT PENETRATED THE RIGHT FORWARD AREA OF THE CARGO COMPARTMENT.


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16261
The Army purchased this helicopter 0969
Total flight hours at this point: 00000982
Date: 04/21/1971
Accident case number: 710421091 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 129 AHC
The station for this helicopter was An Son in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 244345
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC W1 CALE CI
P O2 CULLISON ML
CE E5 ICOVITTI EJ
G E3 WHITTINGTON JR

Passengers:
UNK, FCO, G;


Accident Summary:

AIRCRAFT ^261^ WAS CHALK THREE IN A FLIGHT OF FIVE THAT HAD BEEN CONDUCTING CA'S ALL MORNING. REFUELING AT LZ ENGLISH, THE FLIGHT LANDED AT LZ UPLIFT TO PREPARE FOR ANOTHER CA. AFTER A 15 MINUTE DELAY THE FLIGHT DEPARTED AT 1245 WITH A LOAD OF SIX AMERICAN'S WITH HEAVY RUCKSACKS ABOARD EACH AIRCRAFT. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE EXCEPT FOR THE DEVELOPING HIGH D.A. CONDITIONS. THE ESTIMATED D.A., WHICH WAS INTERPOLATED FROM WEATHER CONDITIONS AT PHU CAT AND LZ ENGLISH, WAS 3500 FEET. WITH THE LOAD OF 6 PASSENGERS THE ESTIMATED GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS 9200 LBS. THE UH-1H OPERATORS MANUAL SPECIFIES THAT MAXIMUM OPERATING DENSITY ALTITUDE FOR 9200 LBS. IS 3800 FT, SO THE HELICOPTER MAY HAVE BEEN OPERATING AT OR NEAR MAXIMUM LIMITATIONS. AT APPROXIMATELY 1300 HOURS THE FLIGHT LEAD CONTACTED THE GUNSHIPS PREPARING THE LZ TO OBTAIN AN LZ BRIEFING. THE BRIEFING THAT WAS GIVEN INDICATED THAT WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIBLE, GENERALLY OUT OF THE NORTHEAST. THE BEST AXIS OF APPROACH WAS 030 AND THE LZ WAS A FIVE SHIP LZ. WITH CHALK ONE LANDING ON TOP OF A KNOLL AND THE REMAINING SHIPS LANDING IN TRAIL BEHIND ON A SLIGHT UPSLOPE. AT THIS POINT, FLIGHT LEAD WAS CONSCIOUS OF ROCKET FIRE FROM THE GUNSHIPS AND MACHINEGUN FIRE FROM HIS OWN DOORGUNS, SO HE WAS UNSURE THAT ALL ELEMENTS HAD RECEIVED A COMPLETE BRIEFING. THE FLIGHT WAS ON FINAL DURING THE LATTER PORTION OF THE BRIEFING SO LEAD CHOSE TO CONTINUE THE APPROACH. CHALK FOUR DESCRIBED THE FORMATION ON SHORT FINAL AS BEING IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE WITH 3-4 ROTOR DISKS HORIZONTAL SEPARATION AND CORRECT VERTICAL SEPARATION FOR A SIMULTANEOUS TOUCHDOWN IN A LEVEL OR NEAR LEVEL LZ. EVERYTHING AT THIS TIME IT BECAME APPARENT TO CHALK THREE, WHO WAS IN POSITION FOR A SIMULTANEIUS TOUCHDOWN ON A LEVEL LZ AND LOOSING TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO STEEPEN HIS APPROACH IN ORDER TO REACH THE GROUND. HIS LANDING SPOT WAS CONSIDERABLY LOWER DUE TO THE SHARPLY DROPPING SLOPE. SIMULTANEOUSLY, CHALK FOUR WAS OBSERVING CHALK THREE'S STEEPENING APPROACH AND ALSO NOTING THAT HIS OWN ANGLE WOULD HAVE TO BE STEEP, HE ELECTED TO GO AROUND AND WAS FOLLOWED BY CHALK 5. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY CHALK THREE BEGAN TO FALL THROUGH. HE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT BUT WAS UNALBE TO APPLY SUFFICIENT POWER TO STOP THE DESCENT OR GO AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO FALL THROUGH WITH HARD CONTACT WITH THE GROUND ON THE EXTREME EDGE OF THE LZ. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPRIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN AND ALL OCCUPANTS EXITED UNINJURED.


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16261
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 0969.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6909   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6910  12   12 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  83   95 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  73  168 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  73  241 WADPD0 D 2SQ 1 CAV      VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002  27  268 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003   0  268 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004   0  268 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005   0  268 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7006   0  268 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7007   0  268 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7008   1  269 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7009  12  281 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010  87  368 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011 106  474 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012  90  564 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7101 133  697 WC3JAA 129 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7102  96  793 WC3JAA 129 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7103 126  919 WC3JAA 129 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7104  63  982 WC3JAA 129 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7105   0  982 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN     
7106   0  982 W0Y6AA AVSCOM FLT DET   5TH ARMY   ST LOUIS         AVSCOM        
7107   0  982 W0MCAA DIR DIST  TRANS  IN MAINT   RED RIVER AD     AVSCOM         
7108   0  982 W0MCAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM       
7109   0  982 W0MCAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM       
7110   0  982 W0MCAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM       
7111   0  982 W0MCAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM       
7112   0  982 W0MCAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVSCOM       
7201   5  987 W2WJAA BEL HEL          BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVSCOM     
7202   0  987 W2WJAA BEL HEL          BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVSCOM     
7203   0  987 W2WJAA BEL HEL          BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVSCOM     
7204   4  991 W2WJAA BEL HEL          BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVSCOM     
7205  20 1011 W2WJAA BEL HEL          BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVSCOM      
7206  23 1034 W2WJAA BEL HEL          BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVSCOM      
7207  37 1071 W2WJAA BEL HEL          BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVSCOM      
7208   9 1080 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV          
7209  14 1094 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7210   6 1100 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV          
7211  23 1123 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7212   7 1130 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV          
7301  24 1154 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7302  17 1171 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7303   4 1175 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV          
7304   0 1175 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV          
7305  21 1196 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7306  21 1217 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    1ST ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7307  14 1231 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7308  29 1260 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7309  14 1274 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7310   0 1274 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7311   2 1276 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7312  33 1309 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7401   6 1315 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7402  19 1334 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7403   6 1340 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7404   0 1340 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7405  21 1361 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   HOPKINS APT      RESV           
7409  17 1434 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV           
7410   7 1441 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7411   2 1443 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7412   9 1452 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7501   8 1460 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7502   2 1462 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7503   7 1469 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7504   0 1469 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7505   0 1469 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7506   0 1469 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7507   0 1469 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7509   2 1488 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7510   1 1489 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7511   0 1489 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV          
7512   0 1489 WQ15AA 316TH MED DET    5TH ARMY   CLEVELAND        RESV