Helicopter UH-1H 68-15309

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15309

The Army purchased this helicopter 0169
Total flight hours at this point: 00001456
Date: 03/01/1970
Accident case number: 700301121 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 134^th AHC
The station for this helicopter was Phu Hiep 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 W1 ROBERTS BH
CP O2 TAYLOR CE
G E3 JOHNSON MR

Passengers:

UNK UNK, LCO, G;

Accident Summary:

ON THE MORNING OF 1 MARCH 1970, 12 AIRCRAFT FROM THE 134^th ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY WERE ATTACHED TO THE 9TH ROK INFANTRY DIVISION (WHITEHORSE). HELICOPTER UH-1H, SN: 68-15309, COMMANDED BY WO1 ROBERTS AND CO-PILOTED BY 1LT TAYLOR, WAS ONE OF THE SUPPORTING AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT MADE THE FIRST PICK UP IN THE PZ AND WENT TO VARIOUS LZ'S IN THE AREA OF OPERATIONS DURING THE MORNING. DURING THIS TIME, WO1 ROBERTS FLEW THE AIRCRAFT TO LZ #28 TWICE. EACH TIME THERE WERE 5 PASSENGERS WITH FIELD GEAR ON BOARD. ON THE TWO OCCASIONS OF LANDING AT LZ #28, WHICH IS 330 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO LAND. THEREFORE THE TROOPS ON BOARD WERE REQUIRED TO DEBARK THE AIRCRAFT WHILE IT HOVERED NEAR A LARGE ROCK. THE TROOPS WERE ABLE TO JUMP TO THIS ROCK AND SAFELY EXIT THE AIRCRAFT. UPON COMPLETION OF THE MORNING MISSIONS THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN WHILE THE CREW AT LUNCH. DURING THE POST FLIGHT CHECK, THE CO-PILOT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS DOWN ONE QUART. THE RESERVOR HAD BEEN FILLED THAT MORNING. THAT AFTERNOON, THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A SHORT FINAL TO LZ #28, BP 391245, WHEN RPM BEGAN TO DECREASE. THERE WERE 5 ROK ARMY TROOPS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT AND THEY WOULD NOT EXIT THE AIRCRAFT AT A HOVER. THE PILOT COULD FIND NO LEVEL GROUND ON WHICH TO SET THE AIRCRAFT. WHILE AT A HOVER THE AIRCRAFT RPM BEGAN TO BLEED RAPIDLY. THE PILOT EXECUTED A RIGHT PEDAL TURN TO MAINTAIN RPM AND MAKE A DOWN SLOPE DEPARTURE. A LARGE TREE BLOCKED THE DEPARTURE PATH. THE RPM WAS STILL DECREASING. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND THE PILOT PULLED PITCH TO CUSHION THE LANDING AND SLOW THE ROTOR BLADES BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE LANDING IN THE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN 10 FEET OF ELEPHANT GRASS AND THE RIGHT SKID STRUCK A LARGE ROCK, ROLLING THE AIRCRAFT ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED RUNNING. THE CREW AND PASSENGERS ESCAPED FROM THE WRECKAGE, WHICH THEN BURST INTO FLAMES, IGNITED BY A BRUSH FIRE NEAR THE LZ.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15309

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 0169.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.