The aircraft was caught in the rotor wash of the ship in front. PSP blew up and caught the skids causing incident damage
This record was last updated on 04/29/1997
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16385
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00003800
Date: 08/03/1972
Accident case number: 720803011
Unit: 62 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Da Nang in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 3
costing 58045
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P O3 BATTLE W
CP W1 LACHEY WG
CE E4 NELSON HT
G E3 DAVIS MO
Passengers:
X1 N DUY, PAX, G;
X1 N CHANHBINH, PAX, G;
O6 CB MCCOID, PAX, G;
Accident Summary:
ON 3 AUG 72, CPT WINGATE BATTLE III WAS ASSIGNED AS PILOT-IN-CHARGE OF ARMY HELICOPTER 66-16385. HIS CREW CONSISTED OF HIS CO-PILOT, WO1 WILLIAM C. LACHEY, CREW CHIEF, SP4 HARRIS T. NELSON, AND DOORGUNNER, PFC MICHAEL O. DAVIS. THE AIRCRAFT STATUS WAS A CIRCLED RED-X RESTRICTING THE AIRCRAFT FROM SLING LOADS. THE MISSION WAS A COMMAND AND CONTROL MISSION IN SUPPORT OF THE 3RD ARVN DIVISION COMMANDER. CPT BATTLE AND WO1 LACHEY PREFLIGHTED THE AIRCRAFT AND DEPARTED ON THE MISSION AT 0815 HOURS AND ARRIVED AT THE PICK UP POINT, LZ400, AT 0830 HRS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN AND A FM CONSOLE AND ANTENNA WAS INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT. AT THIS TIME 3 PASSENGERS ARRIVED AND INSTRUCTED THE CREW TO TAKE THEM TO A FIREBASE 1 MILE EAST OF DUC DUC (AT916576). WO1 LACHEY WAS AT THE CONTROLS AND DEPARTED THE PICK-UP AREA. ENROUTE TO THE FIREBASE, WO1 LACHEY CLIMBED TO 3000' INDICATED. DURING THE CLIMB OUT, WO1 LACHEY APPLIED COLLECTIVE PITCH UNTIL THE ENGINE RPM STARTED TO BLEED, THIS OCCURRED AT 42PSI TORQUE AND 590 EGT. CPT BATTLE INFORMED WO1 LACHEY THAT A DER CHECK WOULD BE MADE LATER DUE TO THE PASSENGERS BEING IN A HURRY. AT 1030 HRS THEY DEPARTED THE FIREBASE AND FLEW TO LZ BALDY, DROPPED OFF THE PASSENGERS AND FLEW TO HAWK HILL, REFUELED, AND RETURNED TO LZ BALDY. AT 1130 HOURS THEY DEPARTED LZ BALDY, FLEW TO DUC DUC, AND SHUT DOWN. AT 1230 HOURS, CPT BATTLE AND WO1 LACHEY CRANKED THE AIRCRAFT AND MOVED IT TO THE CENTER OF THE PAD. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AT 5500 RPM, THE 3 PASSENGERS ARRIVED AND TOLD THE CREW THEY WERE READY TO RETURN TO LZ400. WO1 LACHEY PULLED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO A 3 FOOT HOVER AND POSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT FOR DEPARTURE. DUE TO ARTILLERY THAT WAS FIRING FROM THE FIREBASE, A TAKE OFF DIRECTLY INTO THE WIND WAS NOT POSSIBLE. WO1 LACHEY POSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT FOR DEPARTURE THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A 50 CORSS WIND AND WOULD REQUIRE BETWEEN A NORMAL AND MAXIMUM TAKE OFF. CPT BATTLE MADE A PRE-TAKEOFF CHECK AND VERBALLY INFORMED WO1 LACHEY THAT THE PRE-TAKE OFF CHECK WAS GOOD. WO1 LACHEY ALSO CHECKED THE INSTRUMENTS PRIOR TO DEPARTING AND FOUND ALL INSTRUMENTS IN THE NORMAL OPERATING RANGES. WO1 LACHEY THEN DEPARTED THE LZ. AT APPROXIMATELY 25' AGL AND 15-20 KNOTS AIRSPEED, (EFFECTIVE TRANSLATIONAL LIFT) CPT BATTLE OBSERVED THE N1 START DROPPING, THE ROTOR AND ENGINE RPM INDICATORS DROPPING TOGETHER, THE MASTER CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE LOW RPM AUDIO ACTIVATED. WO1 LACHEY LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE PITCH SLIGHTLY, ROLLED THE THROTTLE TO THE FLIGHT IDLE DETENT, AND THE ENGINE AND ROTOR NEEDLES SPLIT AT 5300 RPM. CPT BATTLE ALSO GOT ON THE CONTROLS AT THIS TIME. WO1LACHEY PUT THE AIRCRAFT IN AN ALMOST VERTICAL DESCENT DUE TO OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT. AT APPROXIMATELY 10-15 FEET AGL, BOTH CPT BATTLE AND WO1 LACHEY SAW A BOMB CRATER IN THE PATH OF THE HELICOPTER AND BOTH APPLIED RIGHT CYCLIC TO AVOID IT. BETWEEN 3 AND 5 FEET THEY BOTH APPLIED CUSHIONING PITCH. AT TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT WAS GOING DOWN AND TO THE RIGHT, AND LANDED HARD. CPT BATTLE AND WO1 LACHEY SHUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. NO INJURIES WERE INCURRED OF THE CREW OR PASSENGERS.
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16385
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 0567.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6705 1 1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 6706 12 13 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6707 83 96 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6708 0 96 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6709 0 96 3364 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6710 0 96 3364 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6711 0 96 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6712 0 96 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6801 91 187 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6802 60 247 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6803 107 354 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6804 77 431 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6805 108 539 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 77 616 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 108 724 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 118 842 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 97 939 3264 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6810 78 1017 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 124 1141 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 98 1239 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 112 1351 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 83 1434 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 102 1536 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 28 1564 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 80 1644 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6906 112 1756 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6907 103 1859 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 72 1931 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 85 2016 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6910 0 2016 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6911 0 2016 8003 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6912 0 2016 8003 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 7001 0 2016 8003 7 CORPS SPT COM GERMANY EUROPE 7002 0 2016 8003 7 CORPS SPT COM GERMANY EUROPE 7003 0 2020 8003 7 CORPS SPT COM GERMANY EUROPE 7004 0 2020 8003 7 CORPS SPT COM GERMANY EUROPE 7005 0 2020 W0MCAA RED RIVER AD 4TH ARMY RED RIVER AD AMC 7006 0 2020 W0MCAA RED RIVER AD 4TH ARMY RED RIVER AD AMC 7007 67 2087 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7008 93 2180 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7009 129 2309 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7010 107 2416 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7011 102 2518 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7012 103 2621 WC3HAA 128 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7101 59 2680 WC41AA 173 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7102 59 2739 WC41AA 173 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7103 114 2853 WC41AA 173 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7104 81 2934 WC41AA 173 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7105 62 2996 WC41AA 173 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7106 103 3099 WC41AA 173 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7107 40 3139 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7108 45 3184 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7109 55 3239 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7110 0 3239 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7111 78 3317 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7112 24 3341 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7201 52 3393 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7202 76 3469 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7203 6 3475 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7204 77 3552 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7205 61 3613 WC41AA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7206 67 3680 WC41AA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7207 100 3780 WC41AA 48 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7208 20 3800 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7209 0 3800 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7210 0 3800 W0Y6AA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7211 0 3800 W0Y6AA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7212 0 3800 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN TRANSIT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7301 0 3800 W0MUAA AVSCOM PROJECT LOAN ST LOUIS AVSCOM 7302 0 3800 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7303 0 3800 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7304 0 3800 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7305 2 3802 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7306 20 3822 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7307 48 3870 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7308 10 3880 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7309 28 3908 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7310 15 3923 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7311 0 3923 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7312 8 3931 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7401 6 3937 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7402 12 3949 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7403 37 3986 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7404 10 3996 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7405 11 4007 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7409 0 4069 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7410 0 4069 WQNGAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7411 13 4082 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7412 12 4094 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7501 4 4098 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7502 15 4113 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7503 27 4140 WTCKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7504 28 4168 WQYQA1 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7505 8 4176 WQYQA1 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7506 40 4216 WQYQA1 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7507 16 4232 WQYQA1 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7509 24 4280 WQYQA1 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7510 20 4300 WQYQA1 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7511 13 4313 WQYQA1 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7512 18 4331 WTXJAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
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