The pilot and an infantry battalion commander were flying a command and control mission. The pilot was directed to fly a low level visual reconnaissance mission over the Can Giouc River, 18 air miles east of Tan An and 4000 to 5000 meters south of Can Giouc. The pilot was flying at approximately 10 feet above and down the center of the river. He and his passenger were observing both of the heavily foliaged banks of the river in an effort to detect potential ambush sites from which the troop carrying boats, which would soon pass this area, might be ambushed. At this time an M-79 grenade launcher that had been stored by the passenger between the pilot's and passenger's seat fell forward striking the collective which resulted in lowering pitch. This caused the aircraft to abruptly descend. The left skid of the aircraft struck the water ripping it off. The pilot immediately initiated a cyclic climb to prevent the aircraft from rolling with the impact of the strike and regained collective control. The passengers were dropped off at Can Giouc and the aircraft flown to Tan An for repair
This record was last updated on 04/14/1999
Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16077
The Army purchased this helicopter 0668
Total flight hours at this point: 00001766
Date: 07/30/1970
Accident case number: 700730201
Unit: 11 ACR
The station for this helicopter was Di An in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 14143
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P W1 SANTORO AE
IP O3 POTTER RG
Accident Summary:
THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THIS ACCIDENT. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCIDENT HERE-IN IS BA SED ON THE STATEMENTS OF THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND THE PILOT.\\THE AIRCRAFT, ^SERIAL NO. 67-16077,^ FLOWN BY ^CPT POTTER,^ INSTRUCTOR PILOT, AND PILOT ^WO1 SANTORO^ DEPARTED THE HELIPAT AT 1605 HOURS ON 30 JULY ENROUTE TO DIAN ARMY AIRFIELD FOR TRAINING PURPOSES. ^CPT POTTER,^ AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT RATED IN THE OH-6A, WAS IN THE PROCESS OF GIVING ^WO1 SANTORO^ HIS 90 DAY CHECK RIDE, REQUIRED BY USARV. THE TRAINING CONSISTED OF AUTOROTATIONS; STRAIGHT-IN AUTOROTION; 180 DEGREE AUTOROTATIONS AND PRECISION AUTOROTATION. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 AUTROTATIONS, ALL WITHOUT INCIDENT, ^CPT POTTER^ REQUESTED CLEARANCE FOR CLOSED TRAFFIC FOR A 180 DEGREE DEPARTURE AND LEFT HAND TRAFFIC. TAKE OFF CROSSWIND AND DOWNWIND FLIGHT WERE NORMAL. ^WO1 SANTORO^ WAS AT THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, FLYING FROM THE RIGHT SEAT ON DOWNWIND ^WO1 SANTORO^ ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND INITIATED A 180 DEGREE TURN AND ALIGNED THE AIRCRAFT UP ON THE RUNWAY. AT APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET ^WO1 SANTORO^ INITIATED COLLECTIVE PITCH TO CUSHION THE AIRCRAFT. AT THIS TIME ^CPT POTTER,^ WHO WAS FOLLOWING THE MOVEMENTS MADE BY ^WO1 SANTORO,^ NOTED THAT THE ROTOR TACHOMETER WAS IN THE LOW GREEN. ^CPT POTTER^ ALSO PLACED HIS HAND BEHIND THE CYCLIC TO INSURE THAT ^WO1 SANTORO^ DID NOT APPLY AFT CYCLIS DURING GROUND CONTACT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CUSHIONED ON THE GROUND. AFTER GROUND CONTACT THE MAIN ROTOR DIPPED AND SEVERED THE TAILBOOM 3 FEET FORWARD OF THE TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLE. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED 12 INCHES AFTER GROUND CONTACT. NO OBJECTS, BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER WERE STRUCK BY THE AIRCRAFT.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16077
The Army purchased this helicopter 0668
Total flight hours at this point: 00001923
Date: 03/07/1971
Unit: A/7/17 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
While Enroute this helicopter was at Level Flight at 0150 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 3 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Main Rotor Blade System
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNNF, JSIDR
(Lindenmuth New Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )
Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16077
The Army purchased this helicopter 0668
Total flight hours at this point: 00002400
Date: 12/28/1972
Accident case number: 721228021
Unit: D/17 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Da Nang in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 2
costing 35324
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P O2 MCGARVEY P
CE E4 KNUTKOWSKI FT
Passengers:
O3 WG FOSTER, PAX, G;
E5 CJ GIBSON, PAX, G;
Accident Summary:
AT 0700, 28 DEC 72, ^1LT PATRICK MCGARVEY, 216-46-0916^, PILOT IN COMMAND AND ^SP/4 FRANK T. KNUTKOWSKI, JR., 017-44-1851^, CREW CHIEF DEPARTED DANANG AFB IN OH-6A ^67-16077^ FLYING TRAIL POSITION IN A WHITE TEAM OF TWO OH-6A'S. ^CPT WILLIAM G. FOSTER, 225-74-7378^, PILOT IN COMMAND AND ^SGT CHARLES T. GIBSON, 559-74-7378^, CREW CHIEF IN OH-6A ^055^ WERE IN THE LEAD POSITION OF THHE WHITE TEAM. THE TWO AIRCRAFT FLEW TO AN UNIDENTIFIED ARVN FIRE SUPPORT BASE WHERE ^LT MCGARVEY^ PICKED UP A VIETNAMESE OFFICER. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO AN AREA APPROXIMATELY 5KM WEST OF FREEDOM HILL. THE TWO AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN A LOW-LEVEL VISUAL RECONNAISSANCE LOOKING FOR ENEMY ROCKET LAUNCHING SITES. ABOUT 0800 ^CPT FOSTER^ PERFORMED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING BECAUSE HIS AIRCRAFT WAS LOSING ENGINE OIL. ^LT MCGARVEY^ LANDED HIS AIRCRAFT IN THE VICINITY OF ^CPT FOSTER'S^ DOWNED AIRCRAFT. ^LT MCGARVEY'S^ CREW SECURED ALL EXCESS GEAR FROM ^CPT FOSTER'S^ AIRCRAFT. HE THEN FLEW TO AN ARVN FIREBASE IN THE VICINITY, WHERE HE LEFT THE EXCESS EQUIPMENT AND THE VIETNAMESE OFFICER WHO HAD BEEN RIDING WITH HIM. AT APPROXIMATELY 0830 ^LT MCGARVEY^ ARRIVED BACK AT THE SITE OF THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WHERE HE AGAIN LANDED. AT THIS POINT ^CPT FOSTER^ AND ^SGT GIBSON^ BOARDED ^LT MCGARVEY'S^ AIRCRAFT. ^LT MCGARVEY^ WAS STILL AT THE CONTROLS. ^CPT FOSTER^ WAS IN THE FRONT LEFT SEAT AND ^SGT GIBSON AND SP/4 KNUTDIWSKI^ WERE IN THE REAR SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. ^LT MCGARVEY^ THEN CLIMBED TO 1500' MSL TO AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF THE UH-1H RECOVERY SHIP AND CREW. AT APPROXIMATELY 0850 THE RECOVERY SHIP ARRIVED AT THE SITE OF THE DOWNED AIRCRAFT. ^LT MCGARVEY^ THEN DESCENDED TO 50-100' AGL AND BEGAN A LOW-LEVEL PROTECTIVE VISUAL RECONNAISSANCE AROUNG THE RECOVERY CREW. ABOUT 0900 WHILE IN A 20 DEGREE RIGHT BANK AT 40-50 KNOTS AND 75-100' AGL THE ENGINE SURGED AND THE AIRCRAFT YAWED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT AND COPILOT STATED THAT N2 WAS INDICATING 110-112% AND THE NEEDLES WERE JOINED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTROL THIS OVERSPEED CONDITION BY ROLLING THE THROTTLE OFF. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DESCEND AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO HALT THE DESCENT BY ROLLING THE THROTTLE BACK ON. N2 N2 IMMEDIATELY ROSE TO 112% AGAIN. BEING UNABLE TO CONTROL RPM MANUALLY THE PILOT THEN ENTERED AUTOROTATION WITH THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 50' AGL AND SHOWING 40 KNOTS INDICATED AIRSPEED. THE PILOT BEGAN A DECELERATIVE FLARE AT APPROXIMATELY 25' AGL AND BEGAN PULLING PITCH AT APPROXIMATELY 10' AGL. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A FLAT MARSHY AREA IN AREA OF ROLLING HILLS. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE. IT THEN PITCHED FORWARD AND LANDED ON THE RIGHT FRONT SKID. SURVIVAL AND RESCUE WERE NOT A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT SINCE ALL FOUR CREWMEMBERS EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNHURT AND WERE PICKED UP IMMEDIATELY BY THE RECOVERY TEAM IN THE AREA.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16077
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 0668.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196806 0 0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD AVCOM 196807 3 3 3339 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 196808 101 104 3257 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196809 109 213 3253 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196810 29 242 3253 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196811 7 249 WDFZAA HHC 1BDE 9 INF VIETNAM RVN 196812 89 338 WDFZAA HHC 1BDE 9 INF VIETNAM RVN 196901 51 389 WDFZAA HHC 1BDE 9 INF VIETNAM RVN 196902 86 475 WDFZAA HHC 1BDE 9 INF VIETNAM RVN 196903 59 534 WDFZAA HHC 1BDE 9 INF VIETNAM RVN 196904 74 608 WDFZAA HHC 1BDE 9 INF VIETNAM RVN 196905 139 747 WDFZAA HHC 1BDE 9 INF VIETNAM RVN 196906 78 825 WDFZAA HHC 1BDE 9 INF VIETNAM RVN 196907 25 850 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 196908 0 850 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 196909 0 850 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 196910 0 850 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 196911 37 887 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 196912 128 1015 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197001 162 1177 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197002 70 1247 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197003 75 1322 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197004 123 1445 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197005 136 1581 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197006 101 1682 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197007 84 1766 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197008 73 1839 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197009 0 1839 WG2BAA 11 ARM CAV REG VIETNAM RVN 197010 0 1839 WFQ8AA 165 TC DS 34 GP VIETNAM RVN 197011 0 1839 WFQ8AA 165 TC DS 34 GP VIETNAM RVN 197012 0 1839 WFQ8AA 165 TC DS 34 GP VIETNAM RVN 197101 11 1850 WFQ8AA 165 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 197102 17 1867 WAZNA0 7 17 AC SQ A TP VIETNAM RVN 197103 56 1923 WAZNA0 7 17 AC SQ A TP VIETNAM RVN 197104 42 1965 WAZNA0 7 17 AC SQ A TP VIETNAM RVN 197105 3 1968 WAZNA0 7 17 AC SQ A TP VIETNAM RVN 197106 0 1968 WAZNA0 7 17 AC SQ A TP VIETNAM RVN 197107 2 1970 WC5CAA B 123RD AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 197108 48 2018 WC5CAA B 123RD AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 197109 34 2052 WC5CAA B 123RD AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 197110 32 2084 WC5CAA 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197111 44 2128 WC5CAA 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197112 1 2129 WC5CAA 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197201 11 2140 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197202 4 2144 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197203 31 2175 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197204 18 2193 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197205 21 2214 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197206 18 2232 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP VIETNAM RVN 197207 9 2241 WACYD0 D TRP 1SQ 17 AC VIETNAM RVN 197208 8 2249 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC VIETNAM RVN 197209 25 2274 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC VIETNAM RVN 197210 57 2331 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC VIETNAM RVN 197211 44 2375 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC VIETNAM RVN 197212 25 2400 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC VIETNAM RVN 197301 20 2420 WFAMAA D TRP 1SQ 17 AC VIETNAM RVN 197302 0 2420 W0Y6AA AVSCOM PROJECT LOAN ST LOUIS AVSCOM 197303 0 2420 W0Y6AA AVSCOM PROJECT LOAN ST LOUIS AVSCOM 197304 0 2420 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM 197305 0 2420 W0MHAA DIR DIST TRANS IN STORAGE SHARPE AD AVSCOM 197306 0 2420 W0MHAA DIR DIST TRANS IN MAINT SHARPE AD AVSCOM 197307 0 2420 W0MHAA DIR DIST TRANS IN MAINT SHARPE AD AVSCOM 197308 0 2420 W0MHAA DIR DIST TRANS IN MAINT SHARPE AD AVSCOM 197309 0 2420 W0MHAA DIR DIST TRANS IN MAINT SHARPE AD AVSCOM 197310 0 2420 W0MHAA DIR DIST TRANS IN MAINT SHARPE AD AVSCOM 197311 0 2420 W0MHAA DIR DIST TRANS IN MAINT SHARPE AD AVSCOM
Please send additions or corrections to:
Printed from databases on: 05/31/2005
Return to Main Index
Copyright © 1998 - 2005 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association