Helicopter UH-1H 66-16982

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16982
The Army purchased this helicopter 1067
Total flight hours at this point: 00000379
Date: 08/05/68
Accident case number: 680805242 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: A/101 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Camp Eagle in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 0
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W2 SHEETS JK
P W1 THARP WE

Accident Summary:

A taxi accident with 66-17062. See that accident report for details

This record was last updated on 04/17/97

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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16982
The Army purchased this helicopter 1067
Total flight hours at this point: 00001331
Date: 04/01/71
Incident number: 710401051ACD Accident case number: 710401051 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 116 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 2 . . Injured = 3 . . Passengers = 7
costing 334345
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 BOWMAN JA
P O2 PEPE JA
CE E4 TABITA RL
G SP4 HIGHSMITH JAMES ARTHUR KIA

Passengers:
 O5 EE PASSMORE, PAX, G; E4 VC MOLINA, PAX, D; E4 JW HASTINGS, PAX, D; E6 EW RICE, PAX, G; O2 P WALKER, PAX, G; PFC HAVEL DONALD JAMES, AR, PX, KIA; O3 G SMITH, PAX, G;


Accident Summary:

 AIRCRAFT ^66-16982^ LANDED AT LZ DONNA AND PICKED UP PASSENGERS. ^CW2 BOWMAN^ MADE A HOVER CHECK AND DISCOVERED THAT HE HAD AN OVERLOADED CONDITION. TWO PASSENGERS WERE OFF-LOADED AND ANOTHER HOVER CHECK WAS INITIATED. AT THIS TIME THE ENTIRE CREW SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER INSTRUCTED THE DOOR GUNNER AND CREW CHIEF TO MAKE A BRIEF CHECK OF THE AIRCRAFT TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG. THE DOOR GUNNER LOOKED INSIDE THE INSPECTION PANEL THAT LEADS TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHILE THE CREW CHIEF MADE A VISUAL CHECK OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH CREW MEMBERS RE-ENTERED THE AIRCRAFT AND INFORMED THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THAT EVERYTHING SEEMED SATISFACTORY. IT WAS NOTICED AT THIS TIME THAT THERE WAS A CIGARETTE SMOLDERING IN THE COCKPIT ASHTRAY AND THERE WAS BURNING GARBAGE IN THE VICINITY OF THE HELIPAD. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER FELT THAT THERE WAS NO FURTHER NEED FOR CONCERN AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER DECIDED TO DEPART TO LZ KY TRA. AT APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ON APPROACH TO KY TRA, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER NOTICED THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND SHOUTED ON THE INTERCOM THAT THEY HAD A FIRE. AT THIS TIME THE CREW CHIEF AND DOOR GUNNER UNBUCKLED THEIR SEAT BELTS AND LOOKED OUT OF THE CARGO DOORS TO THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE DOOR GUNNER REPORTED TO THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THAT THEY DID IN FACT HAVE A FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER EXECUTED A POWER ON APPROACH TO A RICE PADDY AT THE FOOT OF THE HILL ON WHICH KY TRA IS LOCATED. AT APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 KNOTS AIRSPEED THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY POWER TO COMPLETE HIS LANDING. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND, THE AIRCRAFT YAWED NOSE LEFT APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD WITH THE RIGHT SKID LOW. THE AIRCRAFT AT THAT TIME TRAVELED AN ADDITIONAL 4 FEET AND LANDED RIGHT SKID LOW NOW AT AN ANGLE OF APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES TO THE FLIGHT PATH. THE RIGHT SKID BROKE AT THIS TIME FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT SKID ALSO BREAKING. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER ON ITS RIGHT SIDE CONTINUING TO BURN. AFTER THE PASSENGERS AND CREW HAD EXITED IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TWO PERSONNEL WERE STILL IN THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH WERE PINNED UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT'S CARGO DOOR. (SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE BY THE PASSENGERS AND CREW MEMBERS TO FREE BOTH PERSONNEL, BUT SUCCEEDED IN ONLY FREEING ONE OF THE TRAPPED PERSONNE.). DURING THE ATTEMPTS TO FREE THE PERSON THE DOOR GUNNER WAS NOTICED LYING FACE DOWN AND APPEARED TO HAVE A BROKEN NECK. THE SPREADING FIRE AND AMMUNITION EXPLODING PRECLUDED FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO FREE THE DOOR GUNNER. DURING THE TIME THE PASSENGERS AND CREW WERE EFFECTING RESCUE OF THE INDIVIDUAL TRAPPED IN THE WRECKAGE ADDITIONAL FROM KY TRA ARRIVED AT THE SCENE. THEY NOTICED AN INDIVIDUAL LATER FOUND TO BE ONE OF THE PASSENGERS LAYING DEAD IN FRONT OF TTHE AIRCRAFT ABOUT 4 FEET AWAY FROM THE WRECKAGE. THE PERSONNEL FROM KY TRA MOVED THE BODY FURTHER AWAY FROM THE WRECKAGE TO PREVENT FURTHER MUTILATION. EVACUATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN MINUTES AND PERSONNEL WERE TAKEN TO THE ^91ST EVACUATION HOSPITAL^ IN CHU LAI FOR EXAMINATION.\\

This record was last updated on 09/20/98

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The following is crew member information for this incident:

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Name: PFC Donald James Havel
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 04/01/71 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 20.6
Date of Birth: 08/10/50
Home City: San Antonio, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 198 BDE 23 INF
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-099
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16982
SSN: 452844306
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11E10 = Armor Crewman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 10/20/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Tin Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BT282121
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/29/95

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Name: SP4 James Arthur Highsmith
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 04/01/71 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 24.3
Date of Birth: 12/18/46
Home City: Wenona, IL
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 116 AHC
Major organization: Americal Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 04W-099
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16982
SSN: 345387566
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 08/09/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Quang Tin Province I Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BT282121
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/28/94

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The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16982
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 1067.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6710   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6711   8    8 1714   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6712  25   33 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6801   0   33 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6802 103  136 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6803  20  156 3241   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6804   0  156 3241   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6805  16  172 3241   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6806 102  274 3241   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY  
6807 101  375 3241   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC           
6808   4  379 3190   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6809   0  379 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6810   0  379 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM         
6811   0  379 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6812   0  379 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6901   4  383 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN TRANSIT NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM         
6902  18  401 WAGTA0 TRPA1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6903  59  460 WAGTA0 TRPA1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6904  62  522 WAGTA0 TRPA1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6905  62  584 WAGTA0 TRPA1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6906  55  639 WAGTA0 TRPA1SQ9CAV1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN      
6907  46  685 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908   0  685 WDFHAA HHC 520T BN34GP  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909   0  685 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6910   0  685 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6911   0  685 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6912   0  685 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7001   0  685 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7002   0  685 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7003   0  685 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7004   0  685 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7005   0  685 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7006   0  685 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7007   0  685 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM        
7008   1  686 WHB1AA 166 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7009  78  764 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010  96  860 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011  59  919 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012  64  983 WC3GAA 116 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7101 124 1107 WC3GAA 116 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7102 101 1208 WC3GAA 116 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     
7103 123 1331 WC3GAA 116 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN     

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Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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Send comments and questions to the VHPA at ( [email protected] )

Printed from databases on: 01/25/99

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