Helicopter UH-1H 67-17651

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17651
The Army purchased this helicopter 0768
Total flight hours at this point: 00001030
Date: 12/01/1969
Accident case number: 691201051
Unit: B/159 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Phu Bai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 6000
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC O3 KEMPTON L

Accident Summary:

 WHILE LDG TO CONF AREA M/R/B STRUCK DEAD TREE ICDT DAM \


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17651
The Army purchased this helicopter 0768
Total flight hours at this point: 00001789
Date: 10/01/1970
Accident case number: 701001031
Unit: B/158 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Camp Evans in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 93453
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 STRASSMAN DR
P O3 KAIN JM
G E3 BUSH DT

Accident Summary:

 AT APPROXIMATELY 0845 HOURS ON 1 OCTOBER 1970 THE AIRCRAFT CREW LAUNCHED UH-1H 67-17651 ON A C&C (COMMAND AND CONTROL) MISSION. PRIOR TO REACHING THE FINAL DESTINATION TWO PASSENGERS, A MAJOR AND A CAPTAIN, WERE TAKEN ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE MISSION INVOLVED THE CONTROL OF FOUR UH-1H'S AND TWO OH-6A'S ON A FINAL EXTRACTION. THE H MODELS WERE VECTORED INTO THE PZ (PICKUP ZONE) BY THE C&C AIRCRAFT WHILE THE OH-6A'S FLEW COVER FOR THE EXTRACTION OFA RECON TEAM. THE C&C AIRCRAFT WAS HOLDING IN ORBIT NEAR THE PZ BETWEEN 100 AND 200 FEET ALTITUDE AT 60 KNOTS AIRSPEED. SHORTLY AFTER THE THRID H MODEL DEPARTED THE PZ THE C&C AIRCRAFT MADE A SHARP LEFT BANK IN ORDER TO GET INTO POSITION TO OBSERVE THE FOURTH AIRCRAFT ON SHORT FINAL. JUST AS THE NOSE OF THE C&C AIRCRAFT PASSED THROUGH NORTH IN A LEBANK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA FOLLOWED BY A RAPID JERK OF THE AIRFRAME. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER RECOGNIZED THAT HE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AND IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO AUTOROTATION. DURING THE FORCED LANDING THE CREWCHIEF OBSERVED WHIT SPARKS COMING FROM THE ENGINE TAILPIPE. PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE ONE PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE JUMP SEAT DIRECTLY NEHIND AND CENTERED BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND THE PILOT. THE GUNNER WAS SEATED ON THE FLOOR DIRECTLY BEHIND THE PILOT WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF RESTRAINING DEVICE. HE WAS AT THIS POSITION SO HE COULD TUEN AND MONITOR THE RADIOS FOR THE PASSENGER IN THE JUMP SEAT. THE SECOND PASSENGER WAS SEATED IN THE GUNNER'S WELL (RIGHT SIDE) FACING FORWARD AND WAS NOT UTILIZING A SEAT BELT. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER INFORMED THE CREW OF THE EMERGENCY BOTH THE GUNNER AND THE CREWCHIEF MANAGED TO GET INTO POSITION TO OPEN BOTH CARGO COMPARTMENT DOORS. ABOUT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT MADE INITIAL CONTACT WITH THE TREES THE PASSENGER IN THE GUNNERS WELL APPEARED AS IF HE WAS GOING TO JUMP OUT. THE GUNNER SENSED THIS POSSIBILITY AND MADE AN EFFORT TO STOP HIM. IN THE PROCESS THE GUNNER WAS THROWN FROM THE AIRCRAFT WHICH RESULTED IN A MINOR KNEE AND BACK INJURY. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD IN A RELATIVELY CLEAR AREA ON A HEADING BETWEEN 160 AND 180 DEGREES. THE WINDS AT CAMP EVANS WAS REPORTED TO BE 330 AT 25 KNOTS AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ESTIMATED THE WINDS IN THE AREA TO BE OUT OF THE NORTH AT APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THE CREW EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO DIFFICULTY AND THE INJURED DOORGUNNER WAS CARRIED A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. A SMALL FIRE DEVELOPED IN THE ENGINE EXHAUST CONE BUT WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED BY THE CREW CHIEF UTILIZING THE AIRCRAFT FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE ENTIRE CREW WAS EXTRACTED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE CRASH AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXTRACTED SIX AND ONE HALF HOURS LATER.\\


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17651
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  11   11 2436   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6809  14   25 2436   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6810  53   78 2436   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6811   6   84 2436   POST SUPPLY      6TH ARMY   FORT ORD         6TH ARMY   
6812   0   84 2436   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6901   0   84 2436   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6902   0   84 2436   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6903  32  116 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6904 120  236 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6905 135  371 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906 142  513 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907  70  583 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908 101  684 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909 104  788 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910  98  886 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  88  974 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  56 1030 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001   0 1030 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002 117 1147 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003  74 1221 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004 100 1321 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005  76 1397 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7006  85 1482 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7007 112 1594 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7008 108 1702 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7009  87 1789 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010   0 1789 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7011   0 1789 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7012   0 1789 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7101   0 1789                         NAT&GUARD                   NAT GDZI
7102   4 1793                         NAT&GUARD                   NAT GDZI


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: 05/21/2000

Return to Main Index

Copyright © 1998 and 1999 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association