Other aircraft observed fire coming out of engine cowling during aircraft autorotation. No damage to cross tubes. Number 2 engine bearing failed.
This record was last updated on 01/05/1997
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-17126
The Army purchased this helicopter 1267
Total flight hours at this point: 00001223
Date: 04/11/1969
Accident case number: 690411271 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 281 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Nha Trang in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 7
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:
AC W1 WHISENANT MK
P W1 STERCKX RL
CE E4 LINT CL
G E4 RANDALL RL
Passengers:
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
X2 UNK, PAX, D;
Accident Summary:
ON 11 APRIL 1969, THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF AT 1730 WITH A CREW OF FOUR. THE MISSION WAS TO INSERT A SPECIAL FORCES "A" TEAM CONSISTING OF SIX MEN. ALSO ON BOARD WAS THE TEAM RECOVERY NCO. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE A HOVER CHECK WAS PERFORMED AND IT WAS FOUND TO USE 35 POUNDS TORQUE AT 96.5% N1. THE FLIGHT TO THE LZ LASTED 35 MINUTES. WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE AREA OF OPERATION, THE AC NOTICED THE LANDING ZONE WAS ON THE SLOPE OF A HILL AND THAT IT WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES APPROXIMATELY 100-150 FEET TALL. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS ON THE CONTROLS WHEN THE APPROACH WAS INITIATED. THE PILOT WAS MONITORING THE INSTRUMENTS IN THE GREEN. THE AC BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO A HIGH HOVER OVER THE LZ. THEY WERE BETWEEN 30 AND 40 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND THE ROPE LADDERS WERE THROWN OUT. THE AC STARTED A DESCENT INTO THE CONFINED LZ. THE PILOT READ OUT TORQUE READINGS AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED. THE TORQUE WENT DOWN TO 25 POUNDS. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER PULLED IN PITCH TO SLOW HIS DESCENT AND AT THIS TIME THEY WERE APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. WHEN THE PITCH WAS PULLED TO SLOW THE DESCENT, THE PILOT STARTING READING 30 POUNDS, 40, 45, 50 POUNDS AND THEN THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED FROM 6600 TO 5800. HE CALLED THE C&C SHIP AND TOLD THEM HE WAS GOING DOWN. DUE TO THE SLOPE OF THE LZ, THE TAIL ROTOR CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN 360 DEGREES THREE TIMES. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER PUT IN FULL RIGHT CYCLIC AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE SIDE OF THE HILL AND THEN STARTED ROLLING TO THE LEFT. IT MADE THREE COMPLETE ROLLS AND THEN FLIPPED AROUND 180 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-17126
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 1267.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196712 0 0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT IN TRANSIT AVCOMCTR 196801 40 40 3410 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196802 44 84 3410 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196803 98 182 3410 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196804 80 262 3410 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 196805 117 379 3410 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196806 40 419 3410 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196807 27 446 3410 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 196808 126 572 3410 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196809 76 648 3410 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196810 66 714 3410 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196811 81 795 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196812 154 949 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196901 104 1053 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196902 116 1169 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196903 54 1223 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
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Printed from databases on: 12/16/2016
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