Helicopter UH-1H 67-17375

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17375
The Army purchased this helicopter 0368
Total flight hours at this point: 00001708
Date: 07/22/69
Incident number: 690722221ACD Accident case number: 690722221 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 135 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bear Cat in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 455945
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 WO1 GENCHI BERNARDINO FRANCIS KIA
P WO1 STARR ALLEN EUGENE KIA
CE SP4 POOL LARRY GAY KIA
G SP4 WHITLATCH GAIL LEE KIA

Passengers:
UNK UNK, GM, G;

Accident Summary:

AIRCRAFT 67-17375 DEPARTED VINH LONG AS CHALK NO. 8 OF A FLIGHT OF 9 TO FIRE SUPPORT BASE DANGER, THE UNIT WAS SUPPORTING THE 7TH ARVN DIVISION AND WAS ENROUTE TO THE PZ. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED RUNWAY 26 AND WAS TURNING TO THE NORTH TO FORM UP. APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, CHALK 8 WAS HEARD REPORTING THAT HE WAS GOING DOWN WITH SEVERE VIBRATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A DESCENDING TURN GENERALLY NORTHWARD. ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF EMERGENCY WAS APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET WITH AIRSPEED ABOUT 80 KNOTS. THE CREW MADE A POWER APPLICATION AT ABOUT 200 FEET ALTITUDE TO AID IN CLEARING SOME TREES. AT THIS TIME, THE TAIL ROTOR CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE AIRCRAFT LOWERED IT'S NOSE AS IF TO ATTEMPT TO STREAMLINE AND GAIN AIRSPEED. POWER WAS APPLIED THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED VERTICALLY WHILE SPINNING RIGHT. A LEFT ROLL ENSUED, AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND NEARLY INVERTED. FLAMES ERUPTED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH GROUND IMPACT AND IT IS FELT THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED INSTANT CREW FATALITIES. UPON COMPLETE EXTINGUISHING OF THE FLAMES, CREW BODIES WERE EVACUATED TO THE MORGUE AT CAN THO.\\

This record was last updated on 09/20/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 Bernardino Francis Genchi
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/22/69 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.7
Date of Birth: 10/22/45
Home City: North Babylon, NY
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 135 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-15
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20W-033
Short Summary: Tail rotor failure near Vinh Long. Pilot WO1 Allen Eugene Starr.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17375
SSN: 110367949
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Tail Rotor
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 09/13/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Vinh Long Province IV Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married 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 07/28/94

Name: SP4 Larry Gay Pool
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/22/69 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 19.5
Date of Birth: 02/01/50
Home City: Texarkana, AR
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 135 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20W-034
Short Summary: Tail rotor failure near Vinh Long.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17375
SSN: 431900625
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = 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: 01/13/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Vinh Long Province IV 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 07/24/94

Name: WO1 Allen Eugene Starr
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/22/69 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 25.0
Date of Birth: 07/09/44
Home City: Dallas, TX
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 135 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-5
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20W-035
Short Summary: Tail rotor failure near Vinh Long. Co-pilot Bernardino Genchi.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17375
SSN: 266741478 Service number: W3164331
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Tail Rotor
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 05/10/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 04
Location: Vinh Long Province IV 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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/29/94

Name: SP4 Gail Lee Whitlatch
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 07/22/69 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 22.7
Date of Birth: 11/25/46
Home City: Urbana, IL
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 135 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 20W-035
Short Summary: Tail rotor failure near Vinh Long.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17375
SSN: 322461906
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 36K20 = Tactical Wire Operations Specialist
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 10/24/68
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Vinh Long Province IV Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
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 07/28/94

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17375
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 0368.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6803   1    1 9221   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6804  30   31 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6805 121  152 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6806 132  284 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6807 119  403 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6808 153  556 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6809 117  673 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6810 147  820 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6811 122  942 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6812 153 1095 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6901  95 1190 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6902 105 1295 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6903 104 1399 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6904  96 1495 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6905 112 1607 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6906 101 1708 WC08AA 135 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00