Helicopter UH-1H 69-15524

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15524
The Army purchased this helicopter 0770
Total flight hours at this point: 00000661
Date: 03/19/1971
Accident case number: 710319031 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: D/1/1 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
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 W2 GRAY CD
P O2 BRYANT RB
CE E5 REGSBY CD
G E4 MUIR J

Passengers:
, LCO, G;

Accident Summary:

ON 19 MARCH 1971, UH-1H ^524^ DEPARTED CHU LAI AT 0830 HOURS AFTER PICKING UP EIGHT (8) G COMPANY RANGERS, AND FLEW DIRECTLY TO HAWK HILL. AT HAWK HILL 524 WAS REFUELED TO 1200 POUNDS OF FUEL. AT APPROXIMATELY 0930 HOURS AIRCRAFT ^524^, IN A FLIGHT OF THREE (3) AIRCRAFT, DEPARTED HAWK HILL FOR AN INSERTION ON HILL 885. ABOUT HALF WAY THERE GUNSHIP COVER WAS DIVERTED TO ANOTHER MISSION AND THE FLIGHT OF THREE (3) UH-1HS RETRIEVED TO HAWK HILL TO REFUEL AND SHUT DOWN. AT APPROXIMATELY 1015 HOURS THE FLIGHT OF THREE (3) UH-1HS BEGAN THEIR MISSION AGAIN. AT APPROXIMATELY 1030 HOURS THEY ARRIVED AT HILL 885. AIRCRAFT ^524^ CIRCLED OVERHEAD WHILE THE FIRST AIRCRAFT COMPLETED ITS INSERTION. ^524^ THEN BEGAN A LOW ANGLE SLOW APPROACH TO THE LZ. SO AS TO TERMINATE AT A HOVER OVER TOP OF A HOLE BLOWN IN THE CANOPY BY AN AIRSTRIKE. AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A HOVER, IT BEGAN BLEEDING ROTOR RPM AT 46 POUNDS TORQUE JUST AS THE RANGERS WERE ABOUT TO REPEL THE 60 FEET OR MORE TO THE GROUND. THE A/C ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE COLLECTIVE TO REGAIN RPM WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. HE THEN RAN OUT OF LEFT PEDAL. AS A RESULT OF THIS THE AIRCRAFT WAVED TO THE LEFT AND THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK A TREE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF ANTI-TORQUE. THE AIRCRAFT SWUNG TAIL RIGHT AND CONTINUED TO SETTLE REPIDLY. APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET OFF THE GROUND THE MAIN ROTOR STRUCK ANOTHER TREE RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE ROTOR AND THE TRANSMISSION. THE AIRCRAFT FELL THE REMAINING DISTANCE TO THE GROUND, BOUNCED ABOUT TEN (10) FEET AND SETTLED DOWN UPRIGHT, NOSE FACING UP HILL. EVERYONE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO FIRE OR INJURIES INVOLVED.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15524
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 0770.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
197007   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
197008  23   23 WACYD0 D 1-1 CAV AMD    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197009  83  106 WACYD0 D 1-1 CAV AMD    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197010  85  191 WACYD0 D 1-1 CAV AMD    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197011  75  266 WACYD0 D 1-1 CAV AMD    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197012 100  366 WACYD0 D 1-1 CAV AMD    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197101 113  479 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197102 121  600 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN     
197103  61  661 WACYD0 1 1 CAV D TRP    VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush

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Printed from databases on: 05/31/2005

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