Helicopter UH-1C 66-15133

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15133
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000250
Date: 01/30/68
Unit: 355 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0200 feet and 090 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Tail Section
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 03009 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15133
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000557
Date: 10/01/68
Accident case number: 681001211 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 92 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Cam Ranh Bay in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 216914
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:
P W1 MARSHALL TH
IP O4 GORDON JJ

Accident Summary:

MAJ Gordon was preparing WO Marshall to assume the duties of unit instructor pilot in the UH-1C, and had been flying with him for approximately two weeks. At approximately 1440 hours 1 Oct 68, MAJ Gordon and WO Marshall departed Flanders Army heliport and flew closed traffic to the Dong Ba Thin airstrip which is approximately 500 meters northeast of Flanders. Major Gordon was in the right seat of the aircraft as is customary when training instructor pilots, and he made the first approach to the north sod area at Dong Ba Thin. This area is normally used in training and checkouts by all rotary wing units in the Nha Trang - Cam Rhan area. Reasons for using this area include: Control tower operating on both UHF and FM, good fire fighting facilities, limited fixed wing traffic, several smooth sandy areas for autorotations and generally stable winds. After landing on the north sod, MAJ Gordon turned the controls over to WO1 Marshall who made three normal approaches to the same area. Major Gordon took the controls and demonstrated a hovering autorotation, then WO Marshall completed two in a very satisfactory manner. MAJ Gordon was cleared to move to the south sod for more hover work, notably hovering autorotations while moving forward. He demonstrated the first maneuver, then WO1 Marshall completed the next one. WO1 Marshall brought the RPM back up to 6600, then slowly and smoothly applied collective pitch. The left skid came off the ground first, the exact distance is unknown but estimated to be approximately five to six inches, and the aircraft began to roll to the right. WO1 Marshall decreased the collective pitch and Major Gordon got on the controls with him, making sure that the pitch was bottomed, but the aircraft continued to roll to the right. Cyclic was in the lateral neutral position, possibly a little left of center. The aircraft continued rolling right. Both Major Gordon and WO1 Marshall experienced hearing or feeling several "jolts" or "thumps" prior to the main rotor blade striking the ground. The chronological sequence of events is not clear due to their rapidity of occurrence, but it is known that the main rotor struck the ground, the main rotor mast sheared, the transmission was torn loose and thrown from the aircraft, various parts of the tail rotor, synchronized elevator, and tail pylon were torn from the aircraft, and it continued rolling to the right, coming to rest inverted

This record was last updated on 04/14/99

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15133
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 0567.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6705   8    8 W0U36P DIR MAT MAIN AB  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY
6706   0    8 W0U36P DIR MAT MAIN AB  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY
6707   0    8 W0U36P DIR MAT MAIN AB  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY
6708   0    8 W0U36P DIR MAT MAIN AB  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY
6709   0    8 W0U36P DIR MAT MAIN AB  3RD ARMY   FORT BRAGG       3RD ARMY
6710   0    8 3285   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM
6711  86   94 3285   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6712  98  192 3285   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6801  58  250 3285   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6802  86  336 3285   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6803  54  390 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6804  76  466 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6805  60  526 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6806   0  526 3364   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6807   0  526 3364   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC
6808   0  526 3364   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6809  31  557 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00