Accident Summary:
AIRCRAFT WAS LEAD AIRCRAFT OF A FLIGHT OF FOUR ON AN LZ EXPANSION MISSION. WO TRAMPE THE FLIGHT LEAD, HAD RECONNED AREAS FOR THE MISSION WITH THE PATHFINDER COMMANDER ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. THEY HAD SELECTED AN AREA AND CONDUCTED A RECON TO DETERMINE POSSIBLE LANDING SPOTS AND FLIGHTS PATHS INTO AND OUT OF THE LZ. WHEN THE FLIGHT ARRIVED IN THE OPERATIONAL AREA ON 23 OCT 69, THE PATHFINDER COMMANDER INFORMED WO1 TRAMPE THAT THERE HAD BEEN A CHANGE OF PLANS AND THEY WOULD LAND IN THE SECONDARY AREA. WO1 TRAMPE MADE A LOW RECON OF THE NEW AREA AND DROPPED SMOKE TO MARK THE POSITION FOR THE C&C AIRCRAFT AND TO ALSO DETERMINE THE WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY. HE NOTED THAT THE AREA WAS A PINNACLE COVERED WITH SCRUB BRUSH, ELEPHANT GRASS AND SCATTERED BAMBOO STALKS, SHICH WOULD MAKE A TOUCHDOWN IMPRACTICABLE. HE ELECTED TO SHOOT THE APPROACH TO THE CLEAREST AREA AND HOLD THE AIRCRAFT AT A HOVER ABOVE THE BRUSH. AS THE PASSENGERS JUMPED OUT, THE PATHFINDER COMMANDER NOTICED THAT THE TAIL ROTOR WAS HITTING SOME OF THE BRUSH. HE ADVISED THE CREW CHIEF OF THIS. THE CREW CHIEF HAD ALREADY NOTICED THE CONDITION AND WAS ADVISING THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AT THE TIME. AS WO TRAMPE WAS MOVING THE AIRCRAFT FORWARD THE TOP OF A TALLER STALK OF BAMBOO WAS BLOWN UP AND OVER INTO THE TOP OF THE TAIL ROTOR. THE TAIL ROTOR HAD SUDDEN STOPPAGE AND THE CENTER DRIVE SHAFT IN THE TAIL BOOM SEVERED. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN AN IMMEDIATE SPIN TO THE RIGHT OVER THE AREA. WO TRAMPE THEN ROLLED THE THROTTLE OFF IN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE SPIN AND TRIED TO SHOOT A HOVERING AUTOROTATION TO THE TOP OF THE HILL. WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN THE AIRCRAFT HESITATED AND THEN ROLLED DOWN A RAVINE. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER 4 OR 5 TIMES AND THEN CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN ABOUT 40 YARDS DOWN THE HILL FROM WHERE IT FIRST TOUCHED DOWN. WO TRAMPE SHUT OFF THE FUEL AND BATTERY SINCE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND THEN HE AND THE CREW EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-01119
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 0167.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6701 12 12 1649 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6702 17 29 1649 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6703 0 29 1715 POST SUPPLY 6TH ARMY FORT ORD 6TH ARMY 6704 4 33 1715 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6705 7 40 1715 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6706 14 54 1715 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN 6707 4 58 1715 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN 6708 9 67 1715 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6709 24 91 1715 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6710 20 111 1715 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6711 11 122 1715 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6712 0 122 3300 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6801 0 122 3300 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6802 62 184 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6803 57 241 3241 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6804 0 241 3241 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 69 310 3241 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6806 127 437 3241 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6807 146 583 3241 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 6808 102 685 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6809 95 780 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6810 39 819 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6811 78 897 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6812 74 971 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6901 75 1046 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6902 52 1098 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6903 73 1171 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6904 87 1258 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6905 53 1311 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6906 93 1404 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6907 125 1529 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6908 94 1623 WAB3A0 CO A 101 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6909 91 1714 WAB3A0 A-101 AHB 101AB VIETNAM RVN 6910 48 1762 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN
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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