Helicopter UH-1C 66-15124

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000756
Date: 07/05/1968
Accident case number: 680705091
Unit: 135^th AHC
The station for this helicopter was Di An in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 29656
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC X1 CASADIO AA
P W1 DROLSHAGEN JL

Accident Summary:

At 1200 hours 5 Jul 68, I was notified by my operations officer that an aircraft accident had occurred at the Black Horse base camp and that I was appointed as investigating officer. I went to the battalion safety office and learned the accident involved two (2) aircraft from the 135th Assault Helicopter Company. I called operations, was assigned an aircraft and arrived on the scene at 1415 hours. The area was marked off with tape and none of the debris or the aircraft had been moved. My investigation revealed that approximately 1115 hours a light fire team composed of aircraft 66-15124 and 66-15127 had taken off from black horse at 0650 hours that morning on a mission and had returned to their own ramp for refueling and rearming prior to going back on station. Aircraft 66-15124 was piloted by WO1 J. L. Drolshagen and the the aircraft commander was Australian LT Anthony A. Casadio. The aircraft 66-15127 was piloted by WO1 Jessa J. Porter and the the aircraft commander was CWO Richard T. Harrison. Upon my arrival at the scene, they were positioned as indicated in diagram (tab f). My investigation revealed the following facts; the fire team leader, LT Casadio, had called the tower, landed and hovered to a point in the lanes between the revetments and both aircraft at flight idle while the armament systems were rearmed. After rearming the fire team leader, LT Casadio called the tower and requested clearance for the team to hover at its revetments to refuel. Investigations showed this is company SOP to refuel in the revetments. I talked with the tower operator on duty at the time and he stated he cleared them to hover and then turned his attention to other traffic and did not witness subsequent events. A check with combat weather team #1, detector 32, weather squadron at Blackhorse established the weather as 6/8 cw, 1200 ft, 8/8 cirus 30,000 ft. Temp 28 degrees centigrade dewpoint 24 degrees C visibility + 6 and winds variable at 3 knots favoring the south. The investigation revealed that aircraft 66-15124 at approximately 1138 hours brought to a hover by LT Casadio while the gunner, on the right side of the aircraft was still putting his helmet on and therefore not in a position to advise the pilot. The crew chief of the left side did have his helmet on and cleared the aircraft commander to the left. As the aircraft was lifted to a hover, it drifted right and to the rear. The aircraft commander, who was piloting the aircraft stated his intentions were to hover the aircraft, turn the tail left and hover to his revetment. He states and it was verified that an aircraft was parked on a pad in front of the revetments at the time and he was concentrating on staying clear of it. As the aircraft was turned to the right, it drifted rearward and at a point about 45 degrees angle from 66-15124, the tail rotor of the hovering aircraft struck the main rotor of the aircraft at flight idle. Upon contact, the tail rotor, 90 degrees gear box and FM antenna separated from the aircraft landing as indicated in diagram. The hovering aircraft then lurched tail left, became uncontrollable and the pilot lowered the pitch. The aircraft initially made contact with the ground on the right skid, bounced to the left and landed hard on the left skid, crushing it against the aircraft belly. The aircraft came to rest on the left rocket tube and pylong assembly and the right skid. There was no fire or injuries to the crews and both aircraft were shut down without further incident

This record was last updated on 04/16/1997

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000846
Date: 10/29/1968
Unit: HHD 44 ENG GP
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at 0800 feet and 080 knots.
Unknown
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM, 12.7MM)
Systems damaged were: FLT CONTROLS, TAIL ROTOR
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 30301, JSIDR (Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00001054
Date: 02/03/1969
Unit: B/9 AVN 9 INF
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0700 feet and 110 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Passenger Cargo Section
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 03403 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00001341
Date: 06/18/1969
Unit: B/9 AVN 9 INF
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at 0500 feet and 080 knots.
Unknown
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Right Side
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 16902 ()

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
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.