Helicopter UH-1H 66-17127

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-17127
The Army purchased this helicopter 1267
Total flight hours at this point: 00001902
Date: 02/14/1970
Incident number: 700214111ACD Accident case number: 700214111 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 281 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Nha Trang in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 6 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 3
costing 545945
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 WO1 PAYNE ELDON RAY KIA
P WO1 GUENTHER THOMAS ANDREW KIA
CE SP5 HUGHEY MICHAEL ALLEN KIA
G SSG BREWER BOBBIE HERALD KIA

Passengers:
 CO LOCAL, LCO, G; CPT NEUBAUER RONALD GEORGE, AR, OA, KIA; SGT DELANEY KENNETH LEON, AR, OA, KIA;


Accident Summary:

 ARMY HELICOPTER UH-1H, SN: 66-17127 WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DURING AN AIRBORNE PERSONNEL DETECTOR (SNIFFER) MISSION WHICH WAS BEING CONDUCTED ON DONG BO MOUNTAIN, 4 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHWEST OF NHA TRANG, RVN. THERE WAS A CREW OF 6 ON BOARD; 4 CREWING THE AIRCRAFT AND 2 OPERATING THE SNIFFER MACHINE. AT 1000 HOURS ARMY AIRCRAFT 67-17127 TOOK OFF FROM NHA TRANG AAF ENROUTE TO ITS MISSION ON DONG BO MOUNTAIN. ITS MISSION WAS TO FLY 50 FEET ABOVE THE TREES AT 70 KNOTS SO THAT THE SNIFFER MACHINE COULD DETECT ANY SMOKE IN THE AREA. FROM 1005 TO 1006 HOURS THE SNIFFER MACHINE HAD MEDIUM TO HIGH READINGS FROM BP 960 409 TO BP 950 424, THE LAST READING APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES BEFORE AIRCRAFT 66-17127 CRASHED INTO THE TREES. THE LEAD GUNSHIP, PILOTED BY WO1 GARDNER AND 1LT MCKEEGAN, WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 METERS BEHIND 66-17127. AT THIS POINT THERE IS CONFLICTING STATEMENTS BY THE WITNESSES. IT APPEARED TO SOME WITNESSES AS IF THE AIRCRAFT LOST ITS TAIL ROTOR BEFORE ASSUMING A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IT LOST ALTITUDE AND IMPACTED INTO A TREE. UPON IMPACT THE AIRCRAFT ASSUMED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND BEGAN TURNING TO THE RIGHT GAINING SOME ALTITUDE. IT MADE TWO 360 TURNS BEFORE IMPACTING INTO THE TREES. SOME WITNESSES STATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT ASSUMED A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AS IF THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRYING TO LOSE ALTITUDE BY CONTROLING HIS AIRSPEED. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE IT IMPACTED INTO A DEAD TREE. PLEXIGLASS SHATTERED AND THE AIRCRAFT INITIATED A CLIMB BUT YAWED TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS NOTED BY SOME WITNESSES THAT AT THIS TIME THE TAIL ROTOR CAME OFF. THE AIRCRAFT MADE TWO 360 TURNS TO THE RIGHT BEFORE IMPACTING INTO THE TREES ON ITS LEFT SIDE. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD A VERY SLOW AIRSPEED AND LOW ROTOR RPM WHEN IT IMPACTED INTO THE TREES. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN ROTOR DID NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH ANY TREES UNTIL IMPACT. ABOUT 2 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT THE AIRCRAFT BURST INTO FLAMES. AFTER THE CRASH SP4 JOHNSON, WHO WAS DOOR GUNNER ON THE COMMAND SHIP, WAS LOWERED TO THE GROUND, NEAR THE CRASH SITE, BY THE HOIST. THERE WAS ONLY ONE BODY VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WRECKAGE. THERE WASN'T ANY SIGN OF LIFE SO SP4 JOHNSON WAS PULLED FROM THE AREA. WHILE SP4 JOHNSON WAS ON THE GROUND SP4 BECK, THE OTHER DOOR GUNNER ON THE COMMAND SHIP, SPOTTED A MAN IN A GREEN UNIFORM RUNNING FROM THE TOP OF THE HILL TOWARDS THE WRECKAGE. HE SAW HIM ONCE AGAIN RUNNING BACK UP THE HILL. SP4 JOHNSON DID NOT SEE THE PERSON WHILE HE WAS ON THE GROUND. THE INDIVIDUAL WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TREVELING INTO THE WIND, WHICH WAS FROM THE NORTH, BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT WENT OUT OF CONTROL. IT IMPACTED ON A NORTHERLY HEADING, THE WIND BEING LIGHT AND THE VISIBILITY WAS UNLIMITED.\\

This record was last updated on 09/20/1998


The following is crew member information for this incident:


Name: SSG Bobbie Herald Brewer
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/14/1970 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 24.9
Date of Birth: 03/26/1945
Home City: Athens, AL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 281 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-007
Short Summary: Lost tail rotor on Sniffer Mission and crashed into a mountain.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-17127
SSN: 416567258
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67Z50 = Aircraft Maintenance Senior Sergeant
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 06/30/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 04
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married 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 07/28/1994



Name: SGT Kenneth Leon Delaney
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/14/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 21.5
Date of Birth: 08/06/1948
Home City: Jacksonville, FL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: SPECIAL FORCES
Major organization: Special Forces
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-008
Short Summary: Lost tail rotor on Sniffer Mission and crashed into a mountain.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-17127
SSN: 262763717
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 05B4S = Radio Operator
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 11/12/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Khanh Hoa 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 07/29/1995



Name: SP5 Michael Allen Hughey
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/14/1970 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 21.8
Date of Birth: 05/07/1948
Home City: Jacksonville, FL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 281 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-009
Short Summary: Lost tail rotor on Sniffer Mission and crashed into a mountain.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-17127
SSN: 267847265
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: 09/30/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Khanh Hoa 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 - Southern Baptist Convention
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 07/24/1994



Name: CPT Ronald George Neubauer
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/14/1970 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 29.6
Date of Birth: 07/05/1940
Home City: Leisure City, FL
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: SPECIAL FORCES
Major organization: Special Forces
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-011
Short Summary: Lost tail rotor on Sniffer Mission and crashed into a mountain.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-17127
SSN: 066321531
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 31542 = 31 Peripheral Vascular Surgeon
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 12/08/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 08
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Church of Christ
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 07/29/1995



Name: WO1 Thomas Andrew Guenther
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/14/1970 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 19.9
Date of Birth: 04/06/1950
Home City: Atlantic City, NJ
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 281 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-33/69-31
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-011
Short Summary: Lost tail rotor on sniffer mission with Eldon Payne, crashed into a mountain 2 km west of Nha Trang and burned.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-17127
SSN: 144403221
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Tail Rotor Fail
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 11/28/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single 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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/16/2002



Name: WO1 Eldon Ray (Duke) Payne
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/14/1970 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 31.0
Date of Birth: 02/07/1939
Home City: Oklahoma City, OK
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 281 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-9
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 13W-009
Short Summary: On Sniffer Mission with Thomas Guenther, lost tail rotor & crashed into mtn. Class leader of class 69-9. Had prior service as E-7
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-17127
SSN: 446362663 Service number: W3164974
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Tail Rotor Fail
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 06/02/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 12
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II 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: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/28/1994


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-17127
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  37   37 3410   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY   
196802 110  147 3410   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY    
196803  95  242 3410   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY    
196804  78  320 3410   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
196805  99  419 3410   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY    
196806  71  490 3410   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY    
196807 105  595 3410   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC              
196808  68  663 3410   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
196809  84  747 3410   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
196810 103  850 3410   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
196811  69  919 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196812  85 1004 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196901  69 1073 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196902  99 1172 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196903  41 1213 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196904  83 1296 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196905  30 1326 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196906  57 1383 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196907 112 1495 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN       
196908  97 1592 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196909  76 1668 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196910  96 1764 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196911  29 1793 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196912  66 1859 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
197001  43 1902 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      


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Gary Roush


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