Helicopter UH-1H 68-16582

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16582
The Army purchased this helicopter 1269
Total flight hours at this point: 00001446
Date: 05/07/71
Accident case number: 710507101 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 92 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Dong Ba Thin in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 244345
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 CHRISTY JA
P W1 TACHE PG
CE E4 JACKSON ML
G E4 ROBBINS HG

Accident Summary:

ON 7 MAY 1971, AT 0730 HOURS, ARMY AIRCRAFT UH-1H, SERIAL NUMBER ^68-16582^ DEPARTED FLANDERS HELIPORT, LOCATED AT DONG BA THIN AIRFIELD, ENROUTE FOR A MISSION OF PROVIDING LIFT SUPPORT FOR THE DUC MY RANGERS' SCHOOL. THE FLIGHT ENROUTE AND SUBSEQUENT TRAINING WENT WITHOUT INCIDENT. AT APPROXIMATELY 1015 HOURS, ARMY AIRCRAFT UH-1H, SERIAL NUMBER ^68-16582^ WAS ASSIGNED THE MISSION OF TRANSPORTING EIGHT ARVN RANGERS FROM DUC MY AIRFIELD TO LZ1 LOCATED AT BP833 786. ARMY AIRCRAFT ^68-16582^ WAS LEAD SHIP IN A FLIGHT OF TWO. THE SECOND SHIP WAS ARMY AIRCRAFT UH-1H, SERIAL NUMBER ^68-16334^. THE GUNSHIP ESCORT LED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LANDING ZONE AND MARKED IT WITH SMOKE. THE SMOKE GRENADE CAUSED A SMALL FIRE TO BEGIN AT THE NORTH END OF THE LANDING ZONE. THE WINDS WERE APPROXIMATELY 360DEG AT 5-10 KNOTS. THE LANDING ZONE WAS SINGLE SHIP. THE CONTROL AIRCRAFT ADVISED BOTH LIFT SHIPS OF THE FIRE AND WINDS; HE THEN CLEARED ARMY AIRCRAFT UH-1H, SERIAL NUMBER ^68-16582^ INTO THE LANDING ZONE. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER, ^CW2 JULIUS A. CHIRSTY^, ON LOW RECON SAW THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO UTILIZE THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE LANDING ZONE DUE TO THE FIRE AND THE UNEVEN TERRAIN AT THE NORTHERN PORTION. HIS APPROACH INTO THE LZ WAS MADE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. AFTER DROPPING OFF THE RANGERS, HE WAS CLEARED AND BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO A HOVER. DUE TO SOME SMALL TREES TO HIS IMMEDIATE FRONT, ^CW2 CHRISTY^ ELECTED TO MAKE A VERTICAL TAKE-OFF. HE WAS USING 96% N1 AND INCREASED HIS COLLECTIVE TO INITIATE THE TAKE-OFF. AT AN ALTITUDE OF 10-20 FEET AGL, THE RPM BEGAN TO BLEED AND THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT YAWED 30DEG TO THE RIGHT. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A SLIGHT DESCENT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A LARGE (8 INCH DIAMETER) TREE AND THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO THE LEFT AND STRUCK A SECOND TREE (5 INCH DIAMETER). THE TAIL ROTOR WAS TORN FROM THE 90DEG GEAR BOX AND THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE RIGHT FRONT SKID OF THE AIRCRAFT MADE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED COMPLETELY TO THE GROUND LYING PARTIALLY ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. ^CW2 CHRISTY^ SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE AND THE CREW EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT, UH-1H, SERIAL NUMBER ^68-16334^ LANDED IN A SMALL CLEARING SOUTH OF THE CRASH, DISCHARGED ITS RANGERS AND PICKED UP THE DOWNED CREW. IT THEN PROCEEDED TO DUC MY AIRFIELD AND NOTIFIED THE ^10TH COMBAT AVIATION BATTALION MOVEMENT CONTROL CENTER^ OF THE ACCIDENT.\\


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16582
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 1269.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6912   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
7001   9    9 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7002 176  185 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7003  99  284 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7004  93  377 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7005  96  473 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7006  98  571 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7007  62  633 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7008  68  701 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7009  84  785 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7010  65  850 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7011   8  858 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
7012  54  912 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
7101 119 1031 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
7102 127 1158 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
7103 117 1275 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
7104 146 1421 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
7105  25 1446 WC5EAA 608 TC DS        VIETNAM                     RVN



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Printed from databases on: 08/27/00

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