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Helicopter UH-1H 68-15259

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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15259

The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00000887
Date: 09/18/1969
Accident case number: 690918121
Unit: A/1 AVN 1 INF
The station for this helicopter was Phu Loi in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 500
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:

AC W1 LINDSEY JR

Accident Summary:

ACFT WAS WAITING ON RESUPPLY PAD FOR SUPPLIES WITH ENG IDLING
JEEP WITH SUPPLIES FOR MSN APPROACHED ACFT DRIVER FAILED TO
HEED ARM SIGNALS OF CE TO STOP M/R BLADES STRUCK ANTENNA
MOUNTED ON JEEP \

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15259

The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00001443
Date: 02/10/1970
Accident case number: 700210222
Unit: A/1 AVN 1 INF
The station for this helicopter was Tan Son Nhut in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 0
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15259
The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00001540
Date: 04/09/1970
Accident case number: 700409321
Unit: 134^th AHC
The station for this helicopter was Phu Hiep in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 16243
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:

AC W1 GROCE HV
P W1 EDWARDS JD

Accident Summary:

AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 HOURS ON 9 APRIL 1970, WO1 HENRY V. GROCE,
417-50-0285 OF THE 134TH AVN CO (AH) WAS THE PILOT IN CHARGE OF
THE UH-1H, SERIAL NUMBER 68-15259. THE OTHER CREW MEMBERS WERE
WO1 JIMMY D. EDWARDS, 555-48-2359 PILOT; OBSERVER SP4 WARREN
ALIPRANDINI, 344-48-7346; OBSERVER SGT FREDDY D. FRIDAY,
454-72-7792; ALL MEMBERS OF THE 134TH AVN CO (AH). THE AIRCRAFT
APPARENTLY HAD A COMPRESSOR STALL WHILE WO1 GROCE WAS MAKING A
DROOP CAM CHECK WHEN THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED IN FROM A HEIGHT OF 10
TO 15 FEET. WO1 EDWARDS SUFFERED A WHIP LASH TYPE INJURY. THERE
WERE NO OTHER INJURIES. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS $16,243.38.
C. DESCRIPTION OF ACCIDENT: AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 HOURS 9 APRIL
1970, WO1 GROCE AND WO1 EDWARDS WERE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT OF THE
UH-1H HELICOPTER, SERIAL NUMBER 68-15259. THE AIRCRAFT HAD
EXPERIENCED SOME YAWING TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN FLIGHT ON 8
APRIL 1970. THE TAIL ROTOR SYSTEM WAS DISASSEMBLED AND INSPECTED
FOR DAMAGE, REASSEMBLED AND RELEASED FOR TEST FLIGHT ON 9 APRIL
1970. NORMAL PEDAL TURNS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WERE MADE AND A
NORMAL TAKEOFF WAS MADE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN AT 100 KNOTS WITH
33 POUNDS OF TORQUE FOR A TAIL ROTOR RIGGING CHECK. THIS CHECK
WAS COMPLETED AND A NORMAL APPROACH WAS MADE TO THE HELIPORT.
THEN WO1 GROCE MADE A DROOP CAM CHECK AND AS THE AIRCRAFT REACHED
A HEIGHT OF 10 TO 15 FEET THERE WERE TWO LOUD EXPLOSIONS FROM THE
ENGINE AND LOSS OF RPM WITH THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT YAWING TO
THE RIGHT. WO1 GROCE ENTERED AUTOROTATION (RPM WAS NOT SUFFICIENT
TO CUSHION AIRCRAFT) WITH THE AIRCRAFT LANDING HARD ON THE RIGHT
AFT SKID WHICH SANK INTO THE SAND. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING
AFTER THE AIRCRAFT LANDED.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15259

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 1268.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.