Helicopter UH-1H 69-15548

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15548
The Army purchased this helicopter 0770
Total flight hours at this point: 00000273
Date: 11/25/70
Accident case number: 701125071 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 170 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Kontum in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
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:
P W1 HINES JM
CP X1 KHANG PD
CE SP/4 WINTHER HENRY*
G SP/4 KUNKEL DENNIS*
* via e-mail from Dennis Kunkel, 07 SEP 99 to Khomer Beaty.

Accident Summary:

THIS MAJOR AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVOLVED A UH-1H HELICOPTER BEING FLOWN ON A ROUTINE SUPPLY AND PASSENGER CARRYING MISSION WITH 4 PERSONNEL ABOARD. AFTER SEVERAL ROUTINE UNEVENTFUL CARGO AND PASSENGER CARRYING MISSIONS HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, THE PILOT DECIDED TO DEMONSTRATE SOME CONFINED AREA APPROACHES AND TAKEOFFS TO HIS CO-PILOT. HE SUCCESSFULLY ENTERED AND EXITED THE FIRST CONFINED AREA WITHOUT DIFFICULTY, HOWEVER, WHILE HOVERING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A SECOND CONFINED AREA SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE TAIL ROTOR OF THE UH-1H STRUCK A TALL BANANA TREE WHICH RESULTED IN THE TAIL ROTOR AND ITS GEARBOX BEING SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN AN UNCONTROLLED TURN TO THE RIGHT AND FINALLY CAME TO REST ON ITS SIDE IN A POND OF WATER. ALL FOUR PERSONNEL ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED SUCCESSFULLY EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH ONLY ONE PERSON SUSTAINING A MINOR INJURY. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED HEAVY DAMAGE TO MOST OF ITS MAJOR COMPONENTS. THERE WAS NO POST-CRASH FIRE.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15548
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 0770.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
7007   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
7008  15   15 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
7009 139  154 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010 119  273 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011   0  273 WC5CAA 604 TRANS CO     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 ( webmaster@vhpa.org )

Printed from databases on: 02/27/99

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