Accident Summary:
THE AIRCRAFT WAS WORKING A SINGLE SHIP RESUPPLY MISSION FOR THE 1/14TH INF BN, 4TH INF DIV. THE PZ (FSB HARDTIMES) WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES NNE OF AN KHE, RVN. THE LZ (BR 670 650) WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES ENE FROM FSB HARDTIMES. WO1 LAWRY KNEW THE LOCATION OF BOTH THE PZ AND LZ AND HAD FLOWN THERE EARLIER IN THE DAY. THEY WERE ON THE LAST SORTIE OF THE MISSION WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WO1 LAWRY, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE ENTIRE SORTIE. A HOVER-CHECK WAS PERFORMED AFTER LOADING DURING WHICH N1 WAS NOTED TO BE 96%. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE LZ A CALL FOR SMOKE WAS MADE TO GET WIND DIRECTION AND VELOCITY. THE SMOKE INDICATED THE WIND WAS FROM THE EAST AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER MADE HIS APPROACH INTO THE WIND FROM THE WEST. THE SMOKE WAS BLOWING OVER THE GROUND UNTIL IT REACHED THE EDGE OF THE PINNACLE WHERE IT THEN BLEW DOWN OVER THE EDGE INDICATING A DOWNDRAFT CONDITION PREVAILING ON THE LZ. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ELECTED TO MAKE A SHALLOW, SLOW APPROACH TO THE PINNACLE LZ. AS THE AIRCRAFT TERMINATED TO A HOVER APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET AGL AT THE INTENDED PLACE OF LANDING THE AIRCRAFT NOTED INSUFFICIENT LEFT PEDAL AND A LOSS OF RPM WITH AN N1 READING OF 97%. AT THIS TIME THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN SPINNING TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ELECTED TO BACK OFF THE PINNACLE FOR FEAR OF STRIKING TROOPS ON THE GROUND NEAR THE THE AIRCRAFT. AS THE AIRCRAFT BACKED OFF THE LZ AND OUT OF GROUND EFFECT THE TURNING TO THE RIGHT INCREASED MAKING APPROXIMATELY 3 COMPLETE 360 TURNS BEFORE IMPACTING INTO THE TREES. AS SOON AS THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER REALIZED HE HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT HE ELECTED TO NEUTRALIZE THE PEDALS, FURTHER INCREASING THE RATE OF SPIN, AND LOWERING THE COLLECTIVE 4 TO 5 INCHES TO REGAIN LOST RPM. AS THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES THE COLLECTIVE WAS APPLIED TO CUSHION THE IMPACT AND CYCLIC WAS APPLIED INTO THE SLOPE WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY 75. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK LEFT SIDE FIRST, ROLLED ONTO THE TOP SEVERING THE MAST AND RESTING MOMENTARILY ON THE TOP BEFORE COMING TO REST ON THE LEFT SIDE. AN IMMEDIATE CHECK WAS MADE OF THE CREW AND PASSENGERS AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TURNED OFF ALL SWITCHES AND FUEL. THE PASSENGERS WERE SENT TO THE TOP OF THE PINNACLE AND THE CREW REMOVED ALL RADIOS AND EQUIPMENT EXCEPT ONE DOOR GUN (M-60) WHICH WAS PINNED UNDER THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SLUNG TO AN KHE, RVN.\\
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
68-16072
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 0769.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6907 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6908 83 83 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 113 196 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6910 186 382 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6911 98 480 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6912 143 623 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7001 152 775 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7002 73 848 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7003 68 916 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7004 50 966 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7005 0 966 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7006 0 966 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 7007 0 966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7008 0 966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7009 0 966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7010 0 966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7011 0 966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7012 0 966 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7101 0 966 NAT&GUARD NAT GDZI 7102 0 966 NAT&GUARD NAT GDZI 7103 0 966 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7104 0 966 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7105 5 971 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7106 28 999 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7107 39 1038 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7108 23 1061 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7109 1 1062 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7110 16 1078 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7111 21 1099 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7112 10 1109 WAGEAA B TRP 1 9TH CAV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7201 42 1151 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7202 17 1168 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7203 28 1196 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7204 37 1233 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7205 20 1253 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7206 27 1280 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7207 79 1359 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7208 30 1389 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7209 50 1439 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7210 39 1478 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7211 58 1536 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7212 42 1578 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7301 0 1578 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7302 53 1631 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7303 44 1675 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7304 42 1717 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7305 54 1771 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7306 4 1775 WAGEAA HHC 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD 5TH ARMY 7307 36 1811 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7308 38 1849 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7309 12 1861 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7310 4 1865 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7311 10 1875 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7312 12 1887 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7401 12 1899 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7402 7 1906 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7403 0 1906 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7404 5 1911 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7405 46 1957 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7409 24 1998 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7410 33 2031 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7411 23 2054 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7412 11 2065 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7501 0 2065 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7502 0 2065 WAGEAA 1ST CAV DIV 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7503 0 2065 WH30AA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSECOM 7504 0 2065 WH30AA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSECOM 7505 0 2065 WH3QAA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7506 0 2065 WH3QAA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7507 0 2065 WH3QAA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7509 0 2067 WH3QAA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7510 0 2067 WH3QAA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7511 2 2069 WH3QAA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM 7512 0 2069 WH3QAA 6TH CAV BDE 5TH ARMY FORT HOOD FORSCOM
Please send additions or corrections to:
VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law
Copyright © 1998, 1999 and 2000 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association