Helicopter UH-1H 66-00997

On short final to an LZ, the pilot experienced an engine failure. The pilot hover autorotated into the area. Upon landing, the aircraft hit a tree stump and punctured the cargo compartment. Compressor stall caused engine failure

This record was last updated on 04/14/97

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-00997
The Army purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point: 00000777
Date: 12/11/68
Accident case number: 681211201
Unit: A/9 AVN 9 INF
The station for this helicopter was Dong Tam 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 W1 ROGERS JW

Accident Summary:

 ACFT HOVERED BETWEEN REVETMENTS OF PARKED ACFT M/R BLADES OF HOVERING ACFT STRUCK T/R BLADE OF PARKED ACFT \

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-00997
The Army purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point: 00001920
Date: 02/28/70
Incident number: 700228081ACD Accident case number: 700228081 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 187 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Tay Ninh in
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 5 . . Passengers = 6
costing 244345
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC O2 STRATTON MV
P W1 CHAMPION MF
CE E4 REMICK F
G E3 ZAVASKY D

Passengers:
 X2 TREN TV, , OG, KIA; X2 ND HOANG, OGY, D; X2 PV KIEM, OGY, D; X2 GV BUC, OGY, D; X2 VM TAM, OGY, D; , LCO, G;

Accident Summary:

 THE AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN A COMBAT ASSAULT MISSION. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE PZ (PICKUP ZONE). TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS APPROXIMATELY 1330 HOURS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON SHORT FINAL, PARALLEL TO THE ROAD ON WHICH THE TROOPS WERE STANDING. AT THIS POINT, THE TESTIMONIES OF THE WITNESSES DIFFER. THE PILOT AND CREW OF THE AIRCRAFT SAY EMPHATICALLY THAT THE APPROACH WAS NORMAL, BUT THE VIETNAMESE LIEUTENANT, HOWEVER, THOUGHT THE HELICOPTER WAS GOING TO LAND TOO CLOSE TO HIS TROOPS. THE STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE FORMATION OF THE TROOPS WAITING ON THE ROAD ALSO DISAGREE. THE CREW OF THE AIRCRAFT STATE THAT THE VIETNAMESE WERE IN AN UNORGANIZED CLUSTER WHILE THE VIETNAMESE LIEUTENANT STATED THE TROOPS WERE LINED ON THE ROAD AND PARALLEL TO IT. ALL INTERVIEWED PERSONNEL AGREED THAT THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT OF THE AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE PLACED THE LEFT SKID APPROXIMATELY SEVEN (7) FEET FROM THE TROOPS. ACCORDING TO 2LT HOANG, HE MOVED HIS MEN FROM THE ROAD TO THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE RICE PADDY BECAUSE HE FEARED THE MAIN ROTOR WOULD INJURE HIS MEN. FROM THIS POINT ON, NO ONE SAW THE ACTIONS OF PVT TREN. THE CREW ENGINEER WAS CLEARING THE SKIDS FOR FINAL TOUCHDOWN, AND THE VIETNAMESE HAD THEIR HEADS LOWERED TO AVOID THE ROTOR WASH. THE CREW OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WO1 ALLEN, THE PILOT OF THE CHALK 3 AIRCRAFT, HEARD A LOUD POP. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THIS SOUND, WO1 ALLEN LOOKED UP AND SAW ONE ARVN SOLDIER FLYING THROUGH THE AIR. AT THIS POINT, THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED FORWARD, STRIKING ITS RIGHT SKID. THE HELICOPTER THEN YAWED TO THE RIGHT, SWINGING ITS TAIL TO THE LEFT, STRIKING SOME OF THE WAITING ARVN TROOPS. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITH ITS TAILBOOM RESTING ACROSS THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY 130 DEGREES CLOCKWISE FROM THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT PATH.\\

This record was last updated on 09/20/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-00997
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 1266.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

Printed from databases on: 01/25/99

Return to Main Index

Copyright © 1998 and 1999 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association