AIRCRAFT ^UH-1, 67-17418^ AND CREW WERE ASSIGNED A MISSION TO MAKE A VIP PASSENGER PICKUP AT ^DA NANG^ MAIN AIRFIELD AND RETURN TO ^MARBLE MOUNTAIN AIRFIELD^. AT APPROXIMATELY ^0915^ HOURS, THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF WITH SIX PASSENGERS ABOARD AND 600 POUNDS OF FUEL. THE AVAILABLE FUEL WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR THE ANTICIPATED 20 MINUTES FLYING TIME REQUIRED FOR THIS MISSION. AS THERE WERE SEVERAL RAIN SHOWERS IN THE AREA AND A LOW CEILING, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE FROM ^MARBLE MOUNTAIN TO DA NANG MAIN AIRFIELD^. AT SOME TIME ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE "T" HEAD BOLT ON THE CLAMP ASSEMBLY FAILED ALLOWING THE CLASP ASSEMBLY TO VIBRATE LOOSE AND THE MAIN FUEL FILTER BOWL TO SEPARATE FROM THE FILTER SEAT. SYSTEM FUEL PRESSURE FORCED FUEL OUT OF THIS SEPARATION. ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT ^DA NANG MAIN^, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER NOTED 400 POUNDS OF FUEL REMAINING PRIOR TO THE "20 MINUTE FUEL" WARNING LIGHT COMING ON AND DECIDED TO RETURN TO ^MARBLE MOUNTAIN^. MAINTENANCE FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT ^MARBLE MOUNTAIN^ AND DURATION OF FLIGHT TO RETURN WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. THE HEAVY SMELL OF FUEL FUMES CONFIRMED THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDERS CONCLUSION THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO DISCERNABLE EXTERIOR FUEL LEAKAGE. AFTER SETTING DOWN AT ^MARBLE MOUNTAIN AIRFIELD^, THE DENSITY OF THE FUMES APPARENTLY WAS TOUCHED OFF BY CONTACT WITH THE ENGINE EXHAUST. JP-4 FUEL FUMES HAVE A LOW FLASH POINT. THE EXTENT OF FIRE DAMAGE TO THE TAIL BOOM INDICATES THAT THE FUEL WAS CARRIED BACK INTO THE TAIL BOOM WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN FLIGHT. IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN OF THE HELICOPTER CUT OFF THE FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE, HOWEVER APPROXIMATELY 150 TO 175 POUNDS OF FUEL APPARENTLY WAS TRAPPED IN THE INNER COMPARTMENTS AND THE TAIL BOOM WHEN THE FUMES FLASHED INTO FIRE. THE RAPID REACTION TIME OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS PRECLUDED FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME.\\
War Story:
Although this helicopter was written off as the result of this incident, it was later rebuilt and returned to service
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17418
Date: 710500
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XU795114
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: VNAF (South Vietnamese Air Force. )
Loss to Inventory
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17418
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 0468.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6804 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6805 52 52 WARTAA 71STASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 138 190 WARTAA 71STASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 83 273 WARTAA 71STASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 57 330 WARTAA 71STASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 161 491 WARTAA 71STASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 85 576 WARTAA 71STASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 8 584 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 6812 0 584 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6901 0 584 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN TRANSIT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6902 0 584 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6903 0 584 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6904 0 584 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6905 0 584 3300 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6906 83 667 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6907 101 768 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6908 113 881 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6909 87 968 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB VIETNAM RVN 6910 74 1042 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB VIETNAM RVN 6911 78 1120 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB VIETNAM RVN 6912 48 1168 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB VIETNAM RVN 7001 73 1241 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD VIETNAM RVN 7002 28 1269 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD VIETNAM RVN 7003 84 1353 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD VIETNAM RVN 7004 79 1432 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD VIETNAM RVN 7005 13 1445 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD VIETNAM RVN 7006 0 1445 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7007 0 1445 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7008 0 1445 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7009 0 1445 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7010 0 1445 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7011 0 1445 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7012 4 1449 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7101 9 1458 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7102 6 1464 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7103 0 1464 WHB1AA 166 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Printed from databases on: 01/25/99
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