Aircraft was departing POL to check out problems indicated by chip detector light. At 40 knots, there was an explosion in the engine. The aircraft yawed left and RPM decreased. A hovering autorotation was executed with no problems. Landing caused damage to the undercarriage and skids of aircraft. Engine failed. Cause unknown
This record was last updated on 01/05/97
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16719
The Army
purchased this helicopter 0867
Total flight hours at this point:
00002038
Date: 10/15/69
Accident case number: 691015221
Unit: 135
AHC
The station for this helicopter was My Tho in
Number killed in
accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 21607
Source(s)
from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center
database.
Crew Members:
AC W1 FOX DO
P W1 ROBINSON GB
Accident Summary:
AT 1430 HOURS ON 15 OCTOBER 1969, AIRCRAFT 66-16719 DEPARTED MY PHOUC TAY (XS 203598) WITH SIX OTHER AIRCRAFT TO PERFORM EXTRACTIONS FOR THE 7TH ARVN DIVISION. AFTER COMPLETING THREE EXTRACTIONS FROM XS 075578 TO XS 075475, THE FLIGHT PROCEEDED TO XS 105620 TO EXTRACT TWO LIFTS TO XS 197502. AFTER COMPLETING THE FORTH EXTRACTION THE FLIGHT WAS ON ITS WAY BACK TO THE PZ FOR THE FIFTH EXTRACTION. ABOUT ONE MINUTE OUT OF THE PZ THE FLIGHT WENT TO TRAIL FORMATION. THE FLIGHT THEN STARTED ITS DESCENT INTO THE PZ FROM 1300 FEET, 90 TO 95 KNOTS AND 900 FEET PER MINUTE. THE LEAD SHIP WAS MAKING HIS APPROACH DIRECTLY TO THE LEFT OF HIS ELEMENT OF TROOPS. AIRCRAFT 719 WHICH WAS FLYING IN THE CHALK #2 POSITION WAS HOLDING A THREE ROTOR DISK SEPARATION. AS THE FLIGHT DESCENDED CLOSER TO THE PZ THEY STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. AT APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 25 FEET AND 40 KNOTS AIRCRAFT 719 WHICH WAS BEING FLOWN BY MR. ROBINSON, THE PILOT, STARTED TO FLARE TO DECREASE THE AIRCRAFT'S SPEED. THE PILOT HELD THE FLARE UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS ALMOST AT A ZERO AIRSPEED. MR. ROBINSON THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL IN PITCH TO PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM FALLING THROUGH. AT THE SAME MOMENT A LOUD POP WAS HEARD AND THE AIRCRAFT YAWED SWIFTLY TO THE RIGHT AND JUMPED UP ONE TO TWO FEET IN THE AIR. MR ROBINSON REALIZING WHAT HAD HAPPENED QUICKLY STARTED TO CLOSE THETHROTTLE TO PREVENT SPINNING. AT THE SAME TIME THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER MR. FOX, TOOK THE CONTROLS AND FINISHED CLOSING THE THROTTLE AND DOWNING COLLECTIVE TO THE BOTTOM. THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND SETTLED HARD IN ABOUT FOUR FEET OF WATER, 240 DEGREES FROM THE INTENDED HEADING OF 090 DEGREES WITH THE TAIL ROTOR FREE-WHEELING. THE CREW LEFT THE SHIP AND WERE PICKED UP BY CHALK #3 AND TAKEN TO MY PHOUC TAY TO WAIT UNTIL THE MISSION WAS COMPLETE AND THEN GET A RIDE TO BEARCAT, RVN.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16719
Date:
02/10/73
South Vietnam
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the
incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss
database. Also: VNAF (South Vietnamese Air Force. )
Loss to Inventory
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
66-16719
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 0867.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6708 7 7 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6709 92 99 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6710 78 177 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6711 95 272 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6712 95 367 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6801 0 367 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6802 31 398 WAAVA0 COA 227ASH 1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6803 1 399 3448 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6804 46 445 3261 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 95 540 3261 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6806 101 641 3261 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6807 112 753 3261 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 6808 86 839 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6809 94 933 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6810 0 933 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6811 32 965 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6812 0 965 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 6901 22 987 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 64 1051 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 132 1183 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 152 1335 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 113 1448 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6906 114 1562 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6907 128 1690 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 144 1834 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 114 1948 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6910 90 2038 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 6911 0 2038 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6912 0 2038 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7001 0 2038 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7002 0 2038 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7003 0 2038 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7004 0 2038 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7005 0 2038 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7006 0 2038 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7007 0 2038 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7008 0 2038 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7009 0 2038 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7010 0 2038 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7011 0 2038 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7012 1 2039 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law
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