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Helicopter UH-1M 66-15185

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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1M tail number 66-15185
The Army purchased this helicopter 0767
Total flight hours at this point: 00000416
Date: 05/17/1968
Unit: 334^th AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0125 feet and 090 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (RPG)
The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit causing Fragmentation Damage.
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 01 WIA . .
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, 13806 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1M tail number 66-15185
The Army purchased this helicopter 0767
Total flight hours at this point: 00000831
Date: 10/03/1968
Unit: 334^th AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0400 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
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 Main Rotor Blade System
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, 27701 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1M tail number 66-15185
The Army purchased this helicopter 0767
Total flight hours at this point: 00001024
Date: 12/20/1968
Unit: 68^th AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0300 feet and 070 knots.
South Vietnam
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 Main Rotor Blade System
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, 35601 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1M tail number 66-15185
The Army purchased this helicopter 0767
Total flight hours at this point: 00001312
Date: 04/17/1969
Accident case number: 690417221
Unit: 68^th AVN
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 75000
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 JONES WN
P W1 CLIFFORD KD
OB X1 AN PL
CE E4 YOUTSEY JL
G E4 DEANE DW

Accident Summary:

ON 13 APRIL 1969 AT APPROXIMATELY 1525 HOURS, WO1 JONES AND WO1
CLIFFORD^ WERE PREPARING TO DEPART ON AN ARMED RECONNAISSANCE
MISSION IN THE VICINITY OF THE DONG NAI RIVER. THEIR AIRCRAFT
WAS THE SECOND SHIP IN A TWO SHIP FIRE TEAM. THE TWO SHIPS WERE
PARKED IN REVETMENTS APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET
APART, ONE IN FRONT OF THE OTHER. THE LEAD SHIP RECEIVED
CLEARANCE FROM SPARTAN TWOER TO HOVER INTO LANE 6, BIEN HOA
HELIPORT, FOR DEPARTURE. BOTH AIRCRAFT STARTED TO HOVER ALMOST
SIMULTANEOUSLY. AS THE SECOND SHIP IN THE FIRE TEAM BEGAN TO
HOVER, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, ^WO1 JONES^, BECAME AWARE OF THE
AIRCRAFT BEGINNING TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT, WO1
CLIFFORD^, NOTICED THE UNUSUAL ATTITUDE AND CAME ON THE CONTROLS
ALSO. BOTH APPLIED LEFT CYCLIC WITH NO APPARENT RESPONSE. THE
PLANE OF THE ROTOR CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AND EVENTUALLY STRUCK
THE ASPHALT. BOTH BLADES CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ASPHALT AT
LEAST TWICE, AT WHICH TIME THE TOP CASE OF THE TRANSMISSION BROKE
LOOSE FROM THE MAIN CASE. THE MAIN ROTOR HUB, MAIN ROTOR BLADES,
STABILIZER BAR ASSEMBLY AND MISING LEVERS, TOP HALF OF THE MAST
WITH SCISSORS AND SLEEVE ASSEMBLY, SWASHPLATE AND SUPPORT
ASSEMBLY, AND DRIVE LINKS ALL LEFT THE AIRCRAFT INTACT. AT A
POINT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY FEET TO THE RIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE
MAIN ROTOR BLADES AND MAIN ROTOR HUB BROKE AWAY FROM THE MAST AND
CAME TO RESTANOTHER THIRTY-FIVE FEET BEYOND. THE TAIL ROTOR CAME
IN CONTACT WITH THE MAIN ROTOR AS IT WAS TEARING LOOSE FROM THE
AIRCRAFT, CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR AND THE 90 DEGREE GEAR BOX TO
TEAR LOOSE FROM ITS MOUNTS. AS A RESULT OF THE VIOLENT ACTION OF
THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRIKE AND SUBSEQUENT BOUNCING OF THE
AIRCRAFT, THE AFT CROSS TUBE WAS PARTIALLY BROKEN LOOSE FROM ITS
MOUNTS AND RUPTURED THE BELLY AND FUEL CELL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE
AIRCRAFT BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES AND CAME TO REST IN APPROXIMATELY
THE SAME POSITION IT HAD ORIGINALLY STARTED FROM IN THE
REVETMENT. THE CREW MEMBERS WERE SHAKEN UP BUT NO APPARENT
INJURIES RESULTED FROM THIS ACCIDENT.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1M tail number 66-15185
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 0767.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.