Accident Summary:
DURING THE MORNING OF 9 APRIL 1970, AIRCRAFT 186 FLEW FROM 0700 HOURS UNTIL 1000 HOURS SUPPORTING AN INFANTRY BATTALION ON VARIOUS RESUPPLY FLIGHTS. THAT AFTERNOON AT 1315 HOURS THEY RESUMED SUPPORT FOR THE SAME BATTALION. AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 HOURS THEY DEPARTED SAN JUAN HILL WITH ABOUT 750 POUNDS OF CARGO AND THREE (3) PASSENGERS FOR A FORWARD UNIT. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, THE PILOT COMPLETED AN OUT-OF-GROUND EFFECT HOVER CHECK AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY THIRTY (30) FEET USING 45 POUNDS OF TORQUE. HE THEN DEPARTED FOR THE SAME LZ WHICH HAD BEEN USED FOR THE PREVIOUS TWO (2) RESUPPLY FLIGHTS. THEIR GROSS WEIGHT WAS SLIGHTLY HEAVIER ON THIS TRIP THAN ON THE TWO PROCEDING FLIGHTS. IN A FEW MINUTES THEY ARRIVED AT THE LX, WHICH WAS A BOMB CRATER UNSUITABLE FOR A GROUND LANDING AND SURROUNDED BY HIGH TREES. (SEE PHOTO TAB 9) THE PILOT TERMINATED HIS APPROACH ABOVE THE TREES AT APPROXIMATELY A FIFTY (50) TO SIXTY (60) FOOT HOVER. AT THIS TIME THE FORECASTED SURFACE WINDS AT DUC PHO, 19 KILOMETERS TO THE EAST, WERE FROM 120 DEGREE AT 16 KNOTS GUSTING TO 24 KNOTS. (SEE WEATHER REPORT TAB 3) WHEN THE PILOT DESCENDED BELOW TREE TOP LEVEL, HE LOST THE LIFTING EFFECT OF THE STRONG HEAD WIND AND CNSEQUENTLY BEGAN TO DESCENT FASTER THAN DESIRED. POWER WAS ADDED TO SLOW HIS RATE OF DECENT, BUT, DUE TO THEIR HEAVY GROSS WEIGHT, THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO BLEED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE CREW WAS INSTRUCTED TO START THROWING OFF SOME OF THE CARGO. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND BUT HIS RPM DECAYED TO 5800. AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN LOST RPM WAS MADE BY LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE AND ADDING RIGHT PEDAL. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A 360 DEGREE RIGHT TURN IN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN ENOUGH RPM TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT'S DESCENT COULD NOT BE STOPPED AND A DECELERATING CRASH LANDING WAS MADE INTO THE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR INDICATIONS OF FIRE.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16186
The Army purchased this helicopter 0367
Total flight hours at this point: 00002931
Date: 07/29/1970
Accident case number: 700729091
Unit: 134 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Phu Hiep in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 111566
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P W1 WESTON JL
CP O2 FEAVER DT
CE E4 SESSIONS DA
G E4 FOWLER DA
Passengers:
UNK UNK, GM, G;
Accident Summary:
ON 29 JULY 1970, ^WO1 WESTON AND 1LT FEAVER^ TOOK-OFF ON A DIRECT COMBAT SUPPORT MISSION IN SUPPORT OF THE ^173RD AIRBORNE BRIGADE (INFANTRY).^ THE FLIGHT, WAS A SINGLE SHIP MISSION. AT APPROXIMATELY 1012 HOURS, AFTER REFUELING AT LZ UPLIFT, ^WO1 WESTON^ CALLED THE LOCAL CONTROLLING AGENCY, JUMPER CONTROL, FOR DEPARTURE CLEARANCE. HE WAS GIVEN THE WIND DIRECTION AS SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AND CLEARED FOR A SOUTH DEPARTURE. HE COMPLETED HIS HOVER CHECK AND DEPARTED TO THE SOUTH. AFTER CLEARING ALL OBSTACLES ^WO1 WESTON^ STARTED A SLOW LEFT TURN TOWARD HIGHWAY 1, WHICH RUNS GENERALLY NORTH-SOUTH. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 TO 300 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND AT 60 KNOTS AIRSPEED, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE CONTINUED. IT WAS THEN NOTED THAT ROTOR RPM WAS DECREASING AND ENGINE RPM WAS INCREASING. HE IMMEDIATELY ENTERED AUTOROTAITON. HE MADE A 65 DEGREES RIGHT TURN TOWARD THE NEAREST FORCED LANDING AREA. IT WAS THEN NOTED THAT THE LOUD GRINDING NOISE HAD SUBSIDED AND ^WO1 WESTON^ ROLLED THE THROTTLE BACK ON, BUT HAD TO VERY QUICKLY REDUCE IT AGAIN AS THE ENGINE RPM OVERSPED AND THE ROTOR RPM DROPPED TO APPROXIMATELY 6000. BY THIS TIME HE WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND. HE DECELERATED AND ATTEMPTED TO CUSHION THE AIRCRAFT DOWN. THE HEEL OF THE RIGHT SKID MADE FIRST GROUND CONTACT THEN IMMEDIATELY BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN, FOLLOWED 21 FEET LATER BY THE HEEL OF THE LEFT SKID MAKING A LIGHT GROUND CONTACT AND ALSO BECOMING AIRBORNE, FOLLOWED 12 FEET LATER BY HARD GROUND CONTACT ON THE RIGHT SKID WHICH CAUSED THE SKID TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. FROM THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED AN ADDITIONAL 38 FEET ACROSS THE GROUND, STRUCK A DIKE ONE FOOT WIDE AND SEVEN INCHES HIGH. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT (WITHOUT A SKID) MET LESS RESISTANCE CROSSING THE DIKE THAN DID THE LEFT SKID IN CUTTING THROUGH THE DIKE. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO TURN 90 DEGREES LEFT. THE MAIN ROTOR CHOPPED THE TAIL BOOM OFF JUST AFT THE SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR JUST AFTER COMPLETION OF THE 90 DEGREES LEFT TURN. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED 11 FEET AFTER CROSSING THE DIKE. ^WO1 WESTON^ SHUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN, TURNED OFF ALL SWITCHES, AND THE ENTIRE CREW EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16186
The Army purchased this helicopter 0367
Total flight hours at this point: 00003242
Date: 08/12/1971
Accident case number: 710812121
Unit: 174 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 590
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC W1 MCMAHON GT
Accident Summary:
WHILE IN HOVER HOLE DISCHARGING PASSENGERS, TAIL ROTOR WAS STRUCK BY UNKNOWN OBJECT. AIRCRAFT FLEW TO LZ PROFESSIONAL AND LANDED. MAINTENANCE REPAIRED AIRCRAFT AT LZ.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16186
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 0367.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6703 0 0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 6704 0 0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 6705 0 0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 6706 31 31 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6707 139 170 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6708 128 298 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6709 78 376 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6710 108 484 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6711 99 583 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6712 100 683 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6801 101 784 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6802 93 877 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6803 77 954 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6804 64 1018 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6805 76 1094 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 115 1209 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 149 1358 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 101 1459 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 145 1604 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 113 1717 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 106 1823 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 99 1922 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 107 2029 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 101 2130 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 0 2130 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6904 0 2130 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6905 0 2130 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6906 0 2130 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6907 2 2132 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6908 14 2146 WC42AA 174 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 65 2211 WC42AA 174 AHC AMDV VIETNAM RVN 6910 99 2310 WC42AA 174 AHC AMDV VIETNAM RVN 6911 120 2430 WC42AA 174 AHC AMDV VIETNAM RVN 6912 127 2557 WC42AA 174 AHC AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7001 129 2686 WC42AA 174 AHC AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7002 72 2758 WC42AA 174 AHC AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7003 55 2813 WC42AA 174 AHC AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7004 48 2861 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7005 0 2861 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7006 3 2864 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7007 67 2931 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7008 1 2932 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7009 0 2932 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7010 0 2932 W0Y6AA USA FLT OPN OFC 5TH ARMY ST LOUIS AMC 7011 0 2932 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7012 0 2932 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7101 0 2932 NAT&GUARD NAT GDZI 7102 0 2932 NAT&GUARD NAT GDZI 7103 0 2932 WC5GAA 610 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7104 47 2979 WC5GAA 174 ASHC VIETNAM RVN 7105 0 2979 WC42AA 174 ASHC VIETNAM RVN 7106 96 3075 WC42AA 174 ASHC VIETNAM RVN 7107 74 3149 WC42AA 174 ASLT SPTHEL VIETNAM RVN 7108 93 3242 WC42AA 174 ASLT SPTHEL VIETNAM RVN 7109 60 3302 WC42AA 174 ASLT SPTHEL VIETNAM RVN 7110 40 3342 WC42AA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7111 0 3342 WC42AA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7112 3 3345 WC42AA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7201 13 3358 WC5CAA 604TH TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7202 0 3358 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7203 0 3358 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7204 0 3358 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7205 0 3358 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7206 2 3360 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7207 9 3369 W0Y6AA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7208 2 3371 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7209 22 3393 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7210 24 3417 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7211 0 3417 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7212 0 3417 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7301 0 3417 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7302 0 3417 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7303 28 3445 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7304 0 3445 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAL REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7305 0 3445 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAV REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7306 21 3466 WAY8AA 3RD ARM CAV REG 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS 5TH ARMY 7307 17 3483 WAY8AA IIIRD ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7308 20 3503 WAY8AA IIIRD ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7309 39 3542 WAY8FF III ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7310 10 3552 WAY8FF III ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7311 30 3582 WAY8FF III ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7312 10 3592 WAY8FF III ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7401 4 3596 WAY8FF III ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7402 13 3609 WAY8FF III ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7403 0 3609 WAY8FF III ACR 5TH ARMY FORT BLISS FORSCOM 7404 0 3609 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7405 0 3609 W0MUAA INST MAINT FLT 1ST ARMY FT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7409 11 3621 W0U48A INST MAINT FLT 1ST ARMY FT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7410 1 3622 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7411 22 3644 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7412 17 3661 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7501 1 3662 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7502 5 3667 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7503 24 3691 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7504 25 3716 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7505 9 3725 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7506 56 3781 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7507 12 3793 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7509 5 3816 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7510 8 3824 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7511 16 3840 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7512 25 3865 WAB1FF 101ST ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT CAMPBELL FORSCOM
Last modified: Friday February 10th, 20223 |