THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY ^1730 HOURS, 9 DEC 68^, AT THE ^20TH TRANSPORTATION COMPANY'S^ PARKING AREA, ^CU CHI, RVN^. THERE WERE NO INJURIES IN THIS ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CORRECT USE OF ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT. ^LT BRADBERRY^ HAD BEEN CONDUCTING BUSINESS WITH HIS UNITS DIRECT SUPPORT OUTFIT AT ^CU CHI^ ON THE AFTERNOON OF ^9 DECEMBER^. AT ^1700 LT BRADBERRY^ AND HIS CREW PREPARED FOR THEIR RETURN FLIGHT TO ^DI AN^. AFTER STARTING THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT HAD THE GUNNER AND CREW CHIEF VISUALLY CLEAR THE AIRCRAFT ON EACH SIDE AND THEN STARTED TO INCUREASE COLLECTIVE PITCH TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO A HOVER. THE AIRCRAFT HEADING AT THIS TIME WAS 220 DEGREES AND THE WIND WAS FROM 130 DEGREES AT 6 KNOTS. AS ^LT BRADBERRY^ STARTED TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO A HOVER IT SKIDDED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND THE SKID SHOE NUTS ON THE BOTTON OF THE RIGHT SKID DUG INTO THE PSP. AT THIS TIME THE MOMEENTUM OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSED IT TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT AND THE WHITE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND. THE IMPACT OF ONE BLADE STRIKING THE GROUND CAUSED A REACTION SUFFICIENT TO MOVE THE ENTIRE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT APPROXIMATELY SIX FEET. THE RIGHT SKID HIT THE GROUND ONCE MORE BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT FUNALLY CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-01079
The Army
purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point:
00002188
Date: 11/23/70
Accident case number: 701123011
Unit: 117
AHC
The station for this helicopter was Long Binh in
Number killed in
accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 513
Source(s) from
which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC W2 BOUGE TL
Accident Summary:
AC WAS PERFORMING A STEEP APPROACH DUE TO WIRES AROUND PZ. AT APPROX. 20 FEET AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SETTLING WITH POWER, AC WAITED UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN TO APPLY CUSHIONING PITCH WITH NEGLIGABLE EFFECT, AIRCRAFT HAD HARD LANDING CAUSING SKIDS TO BE SPREAD.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01079
The Army
purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point:
00003058
Date: 09/25/71
Incident number: 710925011ACD Accident case
number: 710925011 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 117 AHC
The
station for this helicopter was Plantation in South Vietnam
UTM grid
coordinates: YT039128
Number killed in accident = 2 . . Injured = 2 . .
Passengers = 1
costing 355145
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
MARCHMAN RS
AC WO1 MILLER JOHN JEROME JR KIA
CE E4 HARBISON D
G SP4
NEVILLE STEVEN WAYNE KIA
Passengers:
O4 WE FERNANDEZ, LCO, G;
Accident Summary:
AT APPROXIMATELY 0500 HOURS THE ^117TH AHC ESB^ (EMERGENCY STANDBY TEAM) WAS LAUNCHED AS A RESULT OF BIEN HOA AFB HAVING RECEIVED INCOMING ROUNDS. THE TEAM CONSISTED OF ONE UH-1H LIGHTSHIP AND TWO UH-1C/M ARMED HELICOPTERS. THEIR MISSION WAS TO ATTEMPT TO LOCATE THE POSITION FROM WHICH THE ENEMY HADFIRED THE ROUNDS. THE TEAM PROCEEDED TO THE SUSPECTED AREA AND THE LIGHTSHIP BEGAN A LOW-LEVEL RECONNAISSANCE OF THE AREA WHILE BEING COVERED BY THE ARMED HELICOPTERS. AT THE TIME OF EMPLOYMENT THERE WAS A THIN LAYER OF GROUND FOG IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. TO THE NORTH, NORTHEAST AND NORTHWEST WAS A MUCH HEAVIER CONCENTRATION OF GROUND FOG WHICH WAS MOVING TOWARD THE OPERATIONAL AREA. AS THE SEARCH PROGRESSED A LAYER OF FOG ESTIMATED AT 250 FEET THICK TRAVERSED OVER THE LIGHTSHIP. AS A RESULT THE ARMED HELICOPTERS COULD NOT MAINTAIN VISUAL CONTACT WITH THE LIGHTSHIP THEREFORE THE GUN LEAD ELECTEDTO TERMINATE THE MISSION AND INFORMED THE LIGHTSHIP OF HIS DECISION. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER OF THE LIGHTSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THE TRANSMISSION AND ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO CLIMB OUT TO THE SOUTHWEST. ONE OF THE ARMED HELICOPTERS HAD SEEN AN UNIDENTIFIED AIRCRAFT TO THE SOUTHWEST HEADING TOWARD THE SEARCH AREA AT LOW-LEVEL AND SUGGESTED THE LIGHTSHIP TURN AND CLIMB OUT TO THE NORTH. AGAIN THE LIGHTSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED AND INITIATED A RIGHT TURN TOWARD A NORTHERLY HEADING. AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME AS THE TURN WAS COMPLETED THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ESTABLISHED A POWER SETTING WHICH STABILIZED THE N1 AT 94%. (HE HAS STATED HIS HOVER POWER WAS ABOUT 93%). AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS PLACED IN AN ACCELERATION ATTITUDE AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WATCHED THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR UNTIL IT REACHED 60 KNOTS, AT WHICH TIME HE REPORTS ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE IN THE GREEN, THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR WAS INDICATING A CLIMB BUT THE VSI WAS READING A 500 FPM (FEET PER MINUTE) DESCENT. SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE ACCELERATION THE LIGHT SYSTEM (A CLUSTER OF SEVEN '7' C-130 HERCULES LANDING LIGHTS) WERE EXTINGUISHED. UPON NOTICING THE INDICATION OF A DESCENT THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER STATES HE INCREASED COLLECTIVE BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. AT AN ESTIMATED FIVE TO TEN FEET AGL (AC'S ESTIMATE WITHOUT VISUAL GROUND REFERENCE) COLLECTIVE WAS INCREASED TO THE DEGREE WHERE A "BLEEDING OFF" OF RPM WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE LOW RPM WARNING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. IMPACT WAS AT A SHALLOW ANGLE, NEAR LEVEL, AT APPROXIMATELY 60 KNOTS. INITIAL IMPACT WAS WITH LOW TREES FOLLOWED BY GROUND IMPACT AT WHICH TIME THE LEFT SKID AND THE AFT CROSSTUBE SEPARATED. FROM THAT POINT THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL RELATIVELY LEVEL, SLIDING ON THE BELLY UNTIL IT HIT A SMALL TREE AND A MOUND OF DIRT AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME POINT AS TAB E ITEM E. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW AND ROLL TO THE LEFT SIDE. FROM THIS PIINT THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN SHEDDING PARTS. DURING THIS SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THE PILOT (LEFT SIDE) AND THE CREWCHIEF WERE THROWN FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS FOUND AT POINT 1, TAB E AND HIS SEAT WAS FOUND AT POINT Q TAB E. THE CREWCHIEF CAME TO REST IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PILOT'S SEAT. THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED AT TAB E POINT P WHERE THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER RELEASED HIMSELF FROM HIS SEAT AND MOVED FROM THE BURNING WRECKAGE. PORTIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ON BEYOND THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND CREWCHIEF WERE EVACUATED BY SIDEWINDER 8, THE ARMED HELICOPTER LEAD AIRCRAFT. THE CO-PILOT WAS EVACUATED BY A MEDICAL EVACUATION HELICOPTER AND LATER SUCCUMBED AT THE 24TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL AT LONG BINH. THE DOORGUNNER REMAINED IN THE MAIN WRECKAGE AND RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES THERIN. THE AIRCRAFT AND ALL SYSTEMS WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED.\\
This record was last updated on 09/20/98
The following is crew member information for this incident:
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number
66-01079
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 1266.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6612 0 0 W0Y6AA TRAN MDMHELCO S ALASKA ALASKA 6701 34 34 2065 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6702 43 77 2065 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6703 40 117 2065 POST SUPPLY 6TH ARMY FORT ORD 6TH ARMY 6704 6 123 WADQAA 2 ARM DIV 4TH ARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6705 18 141 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6706 30 171 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6707 8 179 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6708 33 212 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6709 0 212 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6710 6 218 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6711 103 321 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6712 144 465 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6801 82 547 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6802 58 605 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6803 153 758 3380 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6804 128 886 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6805 68 954 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 0 954 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 24 978 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 34 1012 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 39 1051 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 0 1051 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 27 1078 WAAMC0 TRP C 3SQ 17CAV VIETNAM RVN 6812 14 1092 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 0 1092 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6902 0 1092 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6903 0 1092 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6904 0 1092 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6905 0 1092 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6906 0 1092 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6907 0 1092 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6908 0 1092 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6909 0 1092 3300 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6910 57 1149 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6911 95 1244 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6912 79 1323 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7001 64 1387 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7002 83 1470 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7003 101 1571 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7004 76 1647 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7005 74 1721 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7006 69 1790 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7007 108 1898 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7008 73 1971 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7009 68 2039 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7010 75 2114 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7011 74 2188 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7012 108 2296 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7101 116 2412 WAX8AA 117 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7102 86 2498 WAX8AA 117 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7103 72 2570 WAX8AA 117 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7104 98 2668 WAX8AA 117 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7105 103 2771 WAX8AA 117 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7106 71 2842 WAX8AA 117 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7107 81 2923 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7108 83 3006 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7109 52 3058 WAX8AA 117 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law
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