Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 70-15753
The Army purchased this helicopter 0371
Total flight hours at this point: 00000609
Date: 12/01/1971
Accident case number: 711201011 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 = 1 . . Passengers = 1
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
Passengers:
E5 JP BLASE, OAY, D;
Accident Summary:
ON 1 DEC 71, AT 0230 HRS, AT WHISKEY 2 TAXIWAY AT LANE AHP, RVN ENGAGING IN AN UNAUTHORIZED FLIGHT. AT THE ABOVE TIME AND PLACE, SP/5 BLASE WAS SUSPECTED OF BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS WHEN HE MADE HIS WAY DOWN TO THE FLIGHT LINE. HE THEN UNTIED AND STARTED THE ABOVE AIRCRAFT. BEFORE ANY RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS COULD MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO STOP HIM, HE HAD ALREADY BECOME AIRBORNE. SP/5 BLASE IS NOT A RATED AVIATOR. HE WORKED AS AN ELECTRICIAN IN THE COMPANY. HE PULLED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A 50 TO 75 FOOT HOVER. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED FLYING SE ALONG THE WHISKEY 2 TAXIWAY. AFTER HE HAD FLOWN APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET DOWN THE TAXIWAY HE APPARENTLY LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A PEDAL TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE NOSE DIPPED AS THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE PREPARED TAXIWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THROWN BACK UP INTO THE AIR AND CAME TO REST UPRIGHT ON THE SW SIDE OF THE TAXIWAY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FACING THE SW, WITH THE TRANSMISSION RIPPED OUT AND LAYING ON THE GROUND TO THE LEFT FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO FIRE. SP/5 BLASE WAS SITTING IN THE COPILOTS SEAT AND WAS NOT USING THE SEAT BELTS. UPON IMPACT HE SUFFERED MULTIPLE INJURIES. HE HAD MULTIPLE MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES PLUS A SEVERE COMPOUND FRACTURE OF THE UPPER LEFT ARM. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALED. THE DAMAGE INCLUDED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM, FUSELAGE, TRANSMISSION, TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFTS, LEFT CABIN AREA, MAIN ROTOR BLADES, SKIDS, PLUS SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. INCLOSED ARE THREE OHOTOS THAT ILLUSTRATE THE DAMAGE TO THE HELICOPTER.
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 70-15753
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 0371.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 7103 0 0 W0Y6AA AVSCOM FLT DET 5TH ARMY ST LOUIS AVSCOM 7104 0 0 W0Y6AA AVSCOM FLT DET 5TH ARMY ST LOUIS AVSCOM 7105 82 82 WC3JAA 129 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7106 97 179 WC3JAA 129 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7107 97 276 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7108 77 353 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7109 99 452 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7110 99 551 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7111 58 609 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7112 0 609 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7201 0 609 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN