Helicopter UH-1H 68-15537

Accident Summary:

 AIRCRAFT WAS NUMBER EIGHT IN A FLIGHT OF FOURTEEN. THE FLIGHT WAS ASSIGNED THE MISSION OF EXECUTING EIGHT COMBAT ASSAULTS IN SUPPORT OF THE 2ND BRIGADE. THE FIRST MISSION INVOLVED THE EXTRACTION OF ONE RIFLE COMPANY. THE FIRST SEVEN AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE PICK UP ZONE AND DEPARTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. A LARGE TREE APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET TALL WAS DIRECTLY NORTH OF THE TOUCH DOWN POINT. EACH AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TURNED HIS AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 20 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, WHICH ALLOWED SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ROTOR DISC AND THE LARGE TREE, ALLOWING A SAFE DEPARTURE ON A NORTH NORTHWESTERLY HEADING. AIRCRAFT NUMBER 8, UPON APPROACH THE PICKUP ZONE, WAS INSTRUCTED TO UTILIZE A RIGHT DOWN WIND AND RIGHT BASE TRAFFIC PATTERN, DUE TO ARTILLERY FIRE IMPACTING SOUTHWEST OF THE PICKUP ZONE. BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE SPACING, RESULTING FROM THE CHANGE OF THE APPROACH PATTERN, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER EXECUTED A GO AROUND AND 360 DEGREE TURN TO THE WEST. THE SECOND APPROACH WAS SUCCESSFUL, AND THE LOADING OF FIVE PASSENGERS WAS ACCOMPLISHED. THE AIRCRAFT, UPON DEPARTURE FROM THE PICKUP ZONE, DID NOT EXECUTE A 20 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY FOLLOWED A FLIGHT PATH MORE NORTHERLY IN DIRECTION THAN THE PRECEEDING AIRCRAFT IN THE FLIGHT. AS THE AIRCRAFT EXECUTED A MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH A TREE, 60 FEET TALL, TEN INCHES IN DIAMETER, AND LOCATED 40 METERS FORWARD OF THE TAKEOFF POINT. IT IS SURMISED THAT THE AFOREMENTIONED BLADE STRIKE RESULTED IN AN INSTANTANEOUS DECAY OF ROTOR RPM TO A LEVEL UNACCEPTABLE FOR CONTINUED CLIMBOUT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN TURNED LEFT APPROXIMATELY 10 DEGREES, WITH A SLIGHT LOSS OF ALTITUDE, WHEREUPON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE TAIL BOOM PASSED THROUGH THE TOP OF A BUSHY DEAD TREE APPROXIMATELY 40 METERS ALONG THE FLIGHT PATH FROM THE POINT, THE LEFT SYCHRONIZED ELEVATOR WAS TORN FROM THE TAIL BOOM, AND REMAINED SUSPENDED IN THE UPPER LIMBS OF THE TREE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY 70 METERS ALONG ITS' FLIGHT PATH IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, MAKING CONTACT WITH THE TOP OF THE JUNGLE CANOPY, DOWN THE SIDE OF A RAVINE, WITH THE FINAL POINT OF IMPACT BEING IN A STREAM 10 METERS WIDE, THE DEPTH OF THE WATER BEING APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET. FINAL IMPACT WAS IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE, WITH AN ESTIMATED 20 KTS FORWARD MOTION. UPON IMPACT, THE TRANSMISSION AND MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM WERE THROWN FORWARD, COLLAPSING THE CABIN ROOF, WITH THE ROTOR HEAD COMING TO REST IN THE PILOTS COMPARTMENT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CABIN PORTION WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES, AND AS A RESULT, ALL NINE PERSONNEL ABOARD PERISHED IN THE CRASH AND RESULTING FIRE.\\

This record was last updated on 09/20/1998

The following is crew member information for this incident:

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15537
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  32   32 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906 175  207 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907 135  342 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908  86  428 WFJ4B0 COB 158BN 101AC  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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