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
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
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Printed from databases on:
12/16/2016
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