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Helicopter UH-1H 68-15316

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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15316

The Army purchased this helicopter 0169
Total flight hours at this point: 00001205
Date: 02/25/1970
Accident case number: 700225191 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 = 2
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:

AC W1 MULLEN JA
P W1 PRICE JW
CE E4 ESTES GR
G E4 PARODI EL

Passengers:
STRICKLAND, PAX, G;
RICHARDSON, PAX, G;

Accident Summary:

AT APPROXIMATELY 0800 HOURS ON 25 FEBRUARY 1970, WO1 MULLEN AND
WO1 PRICE WERE FLYING FROM PHU HIEP, RVN TO LANE AHP, AN SON,
RVN. WO1 MULLEN CALLED LANE TOWER, REPORTED INBOUND AT CHECKPOINT
CHARLIE AND WAS TOLD THAT LANDING WOULD BE TO THE SOUTHWEST. AS
WO1 MULLEN STARTED TURNING FROM EXTENDED LEFT BASE TO FINAL AT
600 FEET, (LANE TRAFFIC ALTITUDE) AND 90 KNOTS, HE FELT A JERK IN
THE AIRCRAFT WHICH HE FIRST THOUGHT WAS A LOSS OF TAIL ROTOR AND
IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AUTOROTATION. LATER HE DETERMINED THAT HIS 90
GEARBOX AND TAILROTOR SECTION HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE
AIRCRAFT WHEN HE SAW THEM FLY PAST THE AIRCRAFT. THE LOSS OF THE
90 GEARBOX AND TAILROTOR GAVE THE AIRCRAFT A NOSE LOW ALTITUDE
WITH FULL AFT CYCLIC. WHEN THE SHIP TOUCHED GROUND THIS NOSE LOW
ALTITUDE RESULTED IN AN AIRCRAFT SPEED OF 5 TO 7 KMOTS, CAUSING
IT TO LAND HARD ON THE LEFT SIDE AND ROLL TO THE LEFT AS THE LEFT
SKID COLLAPSED. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT HAD COME TO REST, WO1 MULLEN
CRAWLED OUT OF THE COCKPIT THROUGH THE PLASTIC CABIN ROOF WINDOW.
NOTICING THAT HIS PILOT WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH HIS SEAT BELT
HE CRAWLED BACK IN AND HELPED WO1 PRICE OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THEY
WER PICKED UP IMMEDIATELY BY A SHIP FROM THE 129TH ASLT HEL CO.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15316
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.