ACFT STRUCK TREE IN LZ WHEN PAX GOT OFF BEFORE ACFT WAS ON GND ICDT DAM TO M/R BLADES \
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17649
The Army purchased this helicopter 0768
Total flight hours at this point: 00000355
Date: 06/09/1969
Accident case number: 690609431 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/158 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Phu Bai in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 5 . . Passengers = 2
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 EGRIE JG
CP O2 ESPY DW
CE E5 BULLOCK DE
G E3 MARSHALL KL
Passengers:
UNK UNK, LCO, G;
O3 DL BEASLEY, PAX, D;
Accident Summary:
ON 9 JUNE 1969, UH-1H 67-17649 WAS ON A ROUTINE LOG MISSION TO RESUPPLY 1ST BN 506 INF 3RD BDE 101ST ABN DIV FROM THE PICKUP POINT AT CURRAHEE PAD, CAMP EVANS TO EAGLES' NEST, FORWARD CP. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR ON LOG MISSIONS DURING THE MORNING WITH WO1 EGRIE (P), WO1 RATCLIFF (CP), SP5 BULLOCK (CE), AND PFC MARSHALL (G). AT APPROXIMATELY 1340 HOURS THE CP, WO1 RATCLIFF, WAS REPLACED BY 1LT ESPY, AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED AT 1345 TO 1200 POUNDS AND DEPARTED CAMP EVANS REFUELING POINT AT 1355, ARRIVING AT CURRAHEE PAD AT APPROXIMATELY 1400. ALLOWING 5 MINUTE FLYING TIME AND 10 MINUTES FOR LOADING, A HOVER CHECK WAS MADE WITH 1050 POUNDS OF FUEL, 979 POUNDS OF CARGO AND ONE PASSENGER. CP, 1LT ESPY, CALLED OUT A 98% N1 AND 35 LBS TORQUE TO WO1 EGRIE AT THE PILOT'S REQUEST. WO1 EGRIE REFUSED THE TWO OTHER PASSENGERS AND THE FLIGHT DEPARTED CURRAHEE PAD FOR EAGLES' NEST AT APPROXIMATELY 1410 HOURS. THE PILOT RECEIVED ARTILLERY CLEARANCE FOR THE 20 MINUTE FLIGHT TO EAGLES' NEST AND CONTINUED IN A ROUTINE MANNER WITH NOTHING UNUSUAL NOTED IN THE WAY OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE OR FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE APPROACH TO EAGLES' NEST WAS STARTED STRAIGHT IN AT AN UNDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE PAD. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, GUNNER, CO-PILOT, AND WITNESSES ON THE PAD AREA THE APPROACH SEEMED TO BE FAST IN BOTH FORWARD MOVEMENT AND RATE OF DESCENT DURING THE FINAL STAGE. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE LIP OF THE PINNACLE IN A SLIGHT FLARE WITH ALMOST HALF THE SKID OVER THE APPROACH EDGE. ON IMPACT THE RIGHT SKID AT THE REAR CROSSTUBE STRUCK AN 18 INCH HIGH STUMP, 6 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE RIGHT SKID COLLAPSED BUT THE FULCRUM ACTION AND THE AIRCRAFT MOMENTUM ROCKED THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD ON THE LEFT FRONT CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT FRONT. THE BLADE STRIKE ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT BACK AND OVER TO THE RIGHT REAR. THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETELY INVERTED BEFORE LANDING ON THE TOP APPROXIMATELY 66 FEET DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AND CONTINUED SLIDING NOSE FIRST ANOTHER 76 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST AGAINST THE TREELINE. APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 CASES OF CARGO WERE THROWN OUT THE LEFT DOOR ON INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE PASSENGER BEING THROWN OUT JUST PRIOR TO THE AIRCRAFT BECOMING COMPLETELY INVERTED. THE GUNNER PFC MARSHALL WAS THROWN OUT AS THE AIRCRAFT LANDED INVERTED.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17649
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 0768.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6807 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6808 5 5 2436 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6809 15 20 2436 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6810 38 58 2436 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6811 27 85 2436 POST SUPPLY 6TH ARMY FORT ORD 6TH ARMY 6812 0 85 2436 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6901 0 85 2436 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6902 0 85 2436 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6903 8 93 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 6904 87 180 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 6905 136 316 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 6906 39 355 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Printed from databases on: 05/21/2000
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