The engine failed in flight due to foreign object damage. The aircraft was autorotated into the trees.
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16391
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00001552
Date: 06/20/69
Accident case number: 690620231 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 119 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Pleiku 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:
AC W1 SAMSON RE
P W1 SHERMAN RF
CE E4 JOSCELYN C
G E5 ROBINSON TL
Accident Summary:
ON THE MORNING OF 20 JUNE 1969, AIRCRAFT SN 66-391 WAS ON AN AUTHORIZED COMBAT ASSAULT MISSION WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACCIDENT. AFTER COMPLETING TWO COMBAT ASSAULTS FOR THE 1ST BRIGADE, FOURTH INFANTRY DIVISION, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER GAVE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO WO SHERMAN, FOR THE FINAL EXTRACTION OF A TEAM LOCATED IN A LANDING ZONE WHICH WO SHERMAN HAD MADE AN APPROACH, LANDING AND TAKEOFF FROM ONCE BEFORE. THE LANDING ZONE WAS LOCATED ON THE WESTERN SLOPE OF A RIDGE LINE. USING AN APPROACH AXIS OF NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST THE AIRCRAFT CLEARED THE TOP OF THE RIDGE LINE AND HIGHEST BARRIERS THEN WITH THE CREW CLEARING HIM, MR. SHERMAN BEGAN A PEDAL TURN TO THE LEFT SO THE AIRCRAFT WOULD BE PARALLEL TO THE SLOPE. THE DOOR GUNNER TOLD HIM TO BRING THE TAIL UP BUT BEFORE THE GUNNER FINISHED HIS SENTENCE THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND AFTER COMPLETING ONE 360 DEGREE TURN THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOOK THE CONTROLS AND IMMEDIATELY CHOPPED THE THROTTLE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO STOP SPINNING. THE AIRCAFT LANDED VERY HARD WITH THE SKIDS LEVEL AND FACING DOWN SLOPE. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN BURNING UPON GROUND CONTACT AND THE CREW CHIEF JUMPED OUT AFTER SEEING THE FLAMES AROUND HIM. AFTER ROLLING TO THE LEFT THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED BACK TO THE RIGHT 1 1/2 TIMES BEFORE COMING TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. ALL CREW MEMBERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT SAFELY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CREW CHIEF WHO WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER HIM AFTER HE JUMPED OUT.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16391
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 0567.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6705 1 1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 6706 0 1 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 6707 93 94 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6708 105 199 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6709 90 289 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6710 165 454 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6711 0 454 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6712 0 454 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT IN TRANSIT AVCOMCTR 6801 0 454 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6802 0 454 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6803 0 454 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6804 0 454 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6805 0 454 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6806 31 485 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 6807 85 570 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 6808 69 639 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 6809 102 741 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 6810 82 823 WCDXAA 119 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 125 948 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 100 1048 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 108 1156 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 155 1311 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 33 1344 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 106 1450 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 102 1552 WAYAAA 119 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Printed from databases on: 02/27/99
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