Helicopter UH-1H 68-16488

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16488
The Army purchased this helicopter 1169
Total flight hours at this point: 00000356
Date: 02/26/70
Accident case number: 700226341 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 92 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Dong Ba Thin 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

Crew Members:
P O3 BROWN RL
CP W1 JEFFERY DD
CE E4 CHAFFIN EW
G E4 RILEY A

Passengers:
O4 BC MOORE, LCO, G;

Accident Summary:

THE AIRCRAFT REFUELED AT CAM LY AAF, RVN, TO 1170 POUNDS OF FUEL. ON BOARD WAS A CREW OF FOUR, ONE PASSENGER, AND FOOD SUPPLIES FOR THE 2/53D ARVN REGIMENT. A HOVER CHECK WAS PERFORMED AND SHOWED 97-98% N1, 38-40 PSI OF TORQUE, AND 550 C EGT AT 6600 N2 AT A 2 FOOT HOVER. THE PILOT-IN-CHARGE MADE A MINIMUM POWER TAKE-OFF AND FLEW TO A SMALL LZ EIGHT NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF CAM LY AAF. THE LZ WAS BORDERED ON THREE SIDES BY 75 FOOT TREES AND BY A STEEP DOWNWARD SLOPE COVERED WITH BRUSH AND SMALL TREES TO THE NORTH. A SMOKE GRENADE IN THE LZ SHOWED THE WIND AT THE LZ TO BE LIGHT AND FROM THE SOUTH. THE PILOT-IN-CHATGE MADE A SHALLOW APPROACH ON A GENERAL HEADING OF 180. ON SHORT FINAL, THE CO-PILOT OBSERVED THE N1 TO BE 97%. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT HAD LOST TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, THE N2 AND ROTOR RPM BEGAN DECREASING, AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SINK. THE AORCRAFT TOUCHED THE SKID TOES ON THE SLOPE APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET SHORT OF THE EDGE OF THE LZ. THE PILOT-IN-CHARGE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN RPM BY REDUCING THE COLLECTIVE BUT NO INCREASE WAS OBSERVED. THE AFT END OF THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO LOWER UNTIL THE TAIL ROTOR HIT SMALL TREES ON THE SLOPE. THE PILOT-IN-CHARGE THEN RAISED THE COLLECTIVE AND USED RIGHT-AFT CYCLIC AND RIGHT PEDAL TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT DOWN SLOPE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN MOVED DOWN THE SLOPE AT A SKID HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET WHILE TURNING TO THE RIGHT. EIGHTY FEET DOWN THE SLOPE FROM THE EDGE OF THE LZ THE AIRCRAFT HAD TURNED MORE THAN 180 TO THE RIGHT FROM ITS ORIGINAL HEADING. AT THIS POINT A SYNC ELEVATOR STRUCK A TREE WHICH BROKE THE TAIL BOOM. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK SEVERAL TREES, FOR TO SIX INCHES IN DIAMETER, BREAKING THE RED BLADE AND SEVERING THE SHORT SHAFT, AND CAUSING A SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE BLADES. THE AIRCRAFT FELL NEAR VERTICALLY AND SLID FOUR TO FIVE FEET LEFT (DOWN SLOPE), REMAINING UPRIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 120 TO THE LEFT OF ITS ORIGINAL LANDING HEADING.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16488
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 1169.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6911   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
6912  79   79 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
7001 134  213 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
7002 143  356 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
7003   0  356 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00