WHILE HOVERING ON MEDEVAS MSN AC HAD PUT IN INITIAL FLARE TO RICE PADDY WITH 3 TO 4 FT OF WATER T/R HIT SOMETHING IN WATER CAUSING ICDT DAM TO 1 BLADE \
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17492
The Army
purchased this helicopter 0568
Total flight hours at this point:
00001813
Date: 04/05/70
Accident case number: 700405111 Total loss or
fatality Accident
Unit: 135 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Nha
Be in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 4 . .
Passengers = 2
costing 244345
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 W1 TOMSICH
M
CE E5 WHITLEY DW
Passengers:
E5 RA PAUL, PAX, D; E5 GL WESLEY,
PAX, D;
Accident Summary:
AIRCRAFT 67-17492 DEPARTED BEAR CAT ON A ROUTINE TEST FLIGHT TO CHECK THE AIRCRAFT RADIOS. THIS WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE RADIOS HAD BEEN WRITTEN UP FOR DEFICIENCIES IN FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED BEAR CAT TRAFFIC PATTERN OUT THE WESTERN ACCESS ROAD AND TURNED SOUTH TOWARD THE SAIGON RIVER. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AFTER TAKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT, NOSED OVER AND STARTED SPINNING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE GROUND. ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE EMERGENCY WAS BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500 FEET WITH AIRSPEED OF ABOUT 90 KNOTS. THE PILOT MADE SEVERAL CORRECTIONS TO TRY TO BRING THE AIRCRAFT UNDER CONTROL AND FINALLY GOT IT INTO A LEVEL ATTITUDE AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SPIN. PRIOR TO IMPACT THE PILOT ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF AND APPLIED COLLECTIVE IN ORDER TO CUSHION THE FALL. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE WATER RELATIVELY HARD AND ROLLED ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE ALMOST COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN A CANAL. ALL PERSONNEL ESCAPED WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES AND WERE PICKED UP IN A SAMPAN LATER. TRANSFERRED TO A HELICOPTER AND RETURNED TO BEAR CAT.\\
Click HERE to see what 492 looked like after it was "Hooked" back to Bear Cat. Thanks to Wayne Terry for the photos.
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
67-17492
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 0568.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6805 0 0 3300 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6806 64 64 3261 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6807 115 179 3261 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 6808 106 285 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6809 108 393 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6810 0 393 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6811 81 474 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6812 117 591 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6901 99 690 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6902 59 749 WAAVC0 COC 227ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6903 41 790 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 6904 0 790 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 6905 0 790 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 6906 56 846 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6907 154 1000 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 146 1146 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 122 1268 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6910 120 1388 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6911 83 1471 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6912 85 1556 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 7001 94 1650 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 7002 56 1706 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 7003 107 1813 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law
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