Helicopter UH-1H 67-17226

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17226
The Army purchased this helicopter 0168
Total flight hours at this point: 00002563
Date: 05/22/70
Incident number: 700522211ACD Accident case number: 700522211 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: C/227 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Phouc Vinh in Cambodia
UTM grid coordinates: YU356587
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 3
costing 459945
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 CPT LARSON RICHARD ANDREW KIA
AC WO1 REILLY JOHN CHARLES KIA
CE SP4 ABLER JAMES LYNN KIA
G PVT MEHLHAFF RICHARD WAYNE KIA

Passengers:
PMS, , G; E6 A RICHARDSON, PAX, C; E4 CR BROOKS, PAX, C;

Accident Summary:

AIRCRAFT 226 AND 766 (AH-1G) WERE PERFORMING A LOW LEVEL SNIFFER MISSION IN THE VICINITY OF COORDINATES YU 354587. 226 WAS OPERATING AT TREE TOP LEVEL AS DICTATED BY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TYPE MISSION BEING PERFORMED. THE TERRAIN IN WHICH THEY WEREOPERATING IS DENSE JUNGLE AND MOUNTAINOUS, FORCED LANDING AREAS LIMITED TO BOMB CRATERS. AIRCRAFT 766 WAS DIRECTING THE FLIGHT PATH OF 226 FROM A HIGHER ALTITUDE, PERFORMING THE MISSIONS OF NAVIGATION AND COVER FOR THE LOW AIRCRAFT. WHILE TRAVELING TO THE NORTH AND ON AN UPSLOPE RUN, 226 CALLED A MAYDAY ENGINE FAILURE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO ATTEMPT AN AUTOROTATIVE FLARE AND DISAPPEAR INTO THE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND PILOT OF 766 WITNESSED THE CRASH. THERE WERE NO OTHER WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT.\\

This record was last updated on 10/18/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: SP4 James Lynn Abler
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/22/70 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 21.3
Date of Birth: 02/15/49
Home City: Royal, IA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 10W-077
Short Summary: Engine failure on a Sniffer mission in Cambodia.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17226
Call sign: Ghost Rider
SSN: 479563985
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N20 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 08/19/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Duc Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 08/08/99

Name: CPT Richard Andrew Larson (posthumously promoted)
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/22/70 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 25.3
Date of Birth: 01/25/45
Home City: Watertown, SD
Service: FA branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 69-12
Service: FA branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 10W-081
Short Summary: Engine failure on a Sniffer mission in Cambodia.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17226
Call sign: Ghost Rider
SSN: 504481796
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 06/27/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Duc Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Lutheran (Missouri Synod)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 08/08/99

Name: PVT Richard Wayne Mehlhaff
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/22/70 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 19.5
Date of Birth: 12/08/50
Home City: Farmington, NM
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 10W-082
Short Summary: Engine failure on a Sniffer mission in Cambodia.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17226
Call sign: Ghost Rider
SSN: 585447507
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 02/08/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Duc Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 08/08/99

Name: WO1 John Charles Reilly
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/22/70 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.4
Date of Birth: 12/19/46
Home City: Cranston, RI
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 69-39
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 10W-081
Short Summary: Engine failure on a Sniffer mission in Cambodia with Richard A. Larson.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17226
Call sign: Ghost Rider
SSN: 037305939
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 01/05/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Duc Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 08/08/99

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17226
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 0168.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6801   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6802  47   47 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6803 141  188 3380   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6804 127  315 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6805 140  455 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6806 135  590 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6807 145  735 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6808 131  866 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6809 162 1028 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6810 152 1180 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6811 140 1320 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6812 180 1500 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6901 105 1605 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6902 118 1723 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6903 132 1855 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6904 151 2006 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6905 127 2133 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6906   0 2133 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6907   0 2133 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6908   0 2133 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6909   0 2133 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6910   2 2135 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6911   1 2136 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6912  37 2173 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7001 106 2279 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7002 123 2402 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7003  72 2474 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
7004  89 2563 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00