Helicopter UH-1D 66-01054

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-01054
The Army purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point: 00000462
Date: 03/19/68
Accident case number: 680319171
Unit: 355 AVN
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 3600
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 OVERSTRE MM
P W1 WYNNE FA
CE E5 SHULTZ FF
G E4 PACKARD DA

Accident Summary:

The aircraft was flying at 400 feet to avoid artillery. The aircraft struck an unlighted tower severing the landing light and damaging the main rotor blade

This record was last updated on 01/31/97

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-01054
The Army purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point: 00000775
Date: 05/21/68
Accident case number: 680521081
Unit: 355 AVN
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 3850
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 HANNAH J
P W1 NEIL RG
CE E5 SMITH S
G E4 RICHARD L

Accident Summary:

A blade strike occurred while hovering in an LZ and unloading troops. Gusty winds were related as a cause factor

This record was last updated on 04/13/97

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01054
The Army purchased this helicopter 1266
Total flight hours at this point: 00001066
Date: 08/08/68
Accident case number: 680808201 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: A/101 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Phu Bai in South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YC387941
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 228554
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 W1 KLEIN HM
P W1 SCHMIEDING JR

Accident Summary:

WO Klein was on a resupply mission while flying in support of the 2d Battalion, 327th Inf, 101st Airborne Div. Mr. Klein was working in conjunction with another slick flown by CWO Hannah. Working between a resupply point located in the vicinity of YD423013 and a forward location in the vicinity of YC394946. The two aircraft were to act as chase ships on each other. Mr. Klein was to resupply Company D, located on a hilltop. The LZ was surrounded with trees of 100 feet and had an elevation of 200 feet. Mr. Hannah was to resupply a platoon size element of the same battalion, located in a saddle 200 meters west of Company D. The landing zone with an elevation of 2,000 feet was unobstructed and had a clear approach path. Mr. Klein was flying from the right seat. Mr. Klein flew two sorties into Company D, Mr. Hannah made the third, and on the next sortie Mr. Klein hit a tree. The LZ required a termination of approach at a 100 foot hover above the ground and than a vertical descent to the ground. The minimum main rotor blade clearance was approximately 5 feet. On Mr. Klein's first trip into the LZ, his main rotor blade hit small branches during his vertical descent. There were many stumps in the LZ, but by landing on a heading of 135 degrees the toes of both skids were placed firmly on the ground. After his departure Mr. Klein contacted the ground guide, SP4 Shelly, and instructed him to remove a tree at the aircrafts ten o'clock position. On his second sortie into the LZ, the tree which was the main hazard had not been cut down. Stumps were still in the LZ and the unloaded c-rations from the previous sortie had not been cleared. This required Mr. Klein to terminate at a 3 foot hover, unload, and was informed by SP4 Shelly that personnel responsible for the LZ had been instructed to clear the equipment and hazards. A squad of the Company A, 326th Engineers estimated the LZ to be satisfactory and had failed to perform the necessary clearing. Mr. Hannah made the 3rd sortie into the LZ after making several sorties into the saddle 200 meters west. After his departure, he informed the ground guide that the LZ was unsuitable. Mr. Klein made the next and last sortie into the LZ. He had been instructed to unload and extract 6 injured personnel from the LZ. Mr. Klein terminated his approach at a 3 foot hover. Two ground personnel boarded the aircraft and began unloading c-rations. The crew chief and gunner remained in their seats keeping Mr. Klein posted on the main rotor blade clearance. After unloading all the c-rations, one of the ground personnel departed the aircraft while the other remained aboard and assisted in the loading of the injured personnel. After five personnel were safely aboard, he departed the aricraft. It cannot be determine how many people boarded which side. During this time the aircraft was offset by many center of gravity changes. Mr. Klein successfully made corrections and maintained a 3 foot hover. However, he did not remain in one spot and moved slightly forward. SP4 Shelly had been signaling for him to move back. Mr. Klein began to increase collective pitch and at about 10 feet the main rotor struck a tree approximately 12 inches in diameter at the aircraft's then o'clock position. Mr. Klein centered the cyclic and the aircraft settled straight down, landing in an upright position. Mr. Klein executed shut down procedures and all personnel safely evacuated the aircraft

This record was last updated on 04/17/97

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01054
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

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