Helicopter UH-1H 68-15557

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15557
The Army purchased this helicopter 0469
Total flight hours at this point: 00001800
Date: 06/02/71
Accident case number: 710602201 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: A/101 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Phu Bai in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 1
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 O3 NOE VE
P O3 BITELY CE
CE E5 DOWNS DR
G E4 HEATH JW

Passengers:
E5 TB KETNER, PAX, D;

Accident Summary:

THE CREW WAS ON A RESUPPLY MISSION FOR AN INFANTRY UNIT. A SMALL RECTANGULAR SHAPED LANDING ZONE HAD BEEN CLEARED WITH EXPLOSIVE DEVICES DURING THE DAY. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS THE FIRST TO ATTEMPT A LANDING IN THE HASTILY CONSTRUCTED LANDING ZONE. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER CIRCLED THE CONFINED AREA THREE TIMES ON A HIGH RECONNAISSANCE. THE GROUND PERSONNEL POPPED A SMOKE GRENADE TO INDICATE WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY. THE WIND WAS LIGHT AND VARIABLE, BUT AN APPROACH WAS INITIATED ON A HEADING OF 270 AS THE WIND SEEMED TO PREVAIL FROM THAT DIRECTION AND THE LONG AXIS OF THE LANDING ZONE COULD BE UTILIZED. AS THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED THE OBSTACLES ON THE APPROACH END OF THE CONFINEDAREA, A NEAR-VERTICAL DESCENT WAS STARTED. AS POWER WAS APPLIED TO DECREASE THE RATE OF DESCENT, IT SEEMED TO BE INEFFECTIVE AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND. THE PILOT GAVE THE PASSENGER THE SIGNAL TO START KICKING CARGO OUT. AS ONE BOX WAS KICKED OUT OF THE RIGHT DOOR, THE HELICOPTER DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND CONTINED TO DESCENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 75 FEET AGL, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK A TREE ON THE LEFT. THE HELICOPTER SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. ALL CREWMEMBERS AND THE PASSENGER HASTILY LEFT THE WRECKAGE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE CREW CHIEF RETURNED TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. THERE WAS NO FIRE.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15557
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 0469.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6904   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
6905   0    0 3300   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6906  22   22 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907  84  106 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908  81  187 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909  69  256 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910  60  316 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  45  361 WABCT0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  52  413 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  60  473 WAB3T0 HC101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002  90  563 WAB3T0 HC101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003  44  607 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004  32  639 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005 118  757 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7006 138  895 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7007 103  998 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7008  56 1054 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7009  73 1127 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010  67 1194 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011 118 1312 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012 122 1434 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7101 113 1547 WAB3A0 A 101ST AHB      VIETNAM                     RVN     
7102  79 1626 WAB3A0 A 101ST AHB      VIETNAM                     RVN     
7103  28 1654 WAB3A0 A 101ST AHB      VIETNAM                     RVN     
7104  72 1726 WAB3A0 142 TC DS        VIETNAM                     RVN     
7105  74 1800 WAB3A0 A 101ST AHB      VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

Send comments and questions to the VHPA at ( [email protected] )

Printed from databases on: 01/25/99

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