Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-08826
Date: 12/19/1965
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was an Unknown mission
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
Not Reported
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: STRUCTURE
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: UH1P1, 01719, BELL (Bell Helicopter.
)
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-08826
Date: 03/28/1966
Accident case number: 0E243 Fatality Accident
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers =
0
costing 11877
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army
Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P CW SWEAZEY RW
CP O2 STUART LE
CE E5 BISHOP JE
G E3 CONLEY RE
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-08826
Date: 05/04/1966
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Troop Extraction , Hot Area.
While in Operations Area this helicopter was in Descent at 0200
feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 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 Right Side
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
for 30.00
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was
created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis
Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P1, 00124, FM48 ()
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-08826
The Army purchased this helicopter 0864
Total flight hours at this point: 00001407
Date: 11/28/1966
Accident case number: H353
Unit: B/229 AVN
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers =
6
costing 1500
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army
Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC PATTERSON
P STAFFORD D
Accident Summary:
ACFT ON FINAL APP WHEN TR WAS HIT SUS EXPENDED ROUNDS HIT TR
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-08826
The Army purchased this helicopter 0864
Total flight hours at this point: 00001980
Date: 07/06/1967
Accident case number: 670706221
Unit: B/229 AVN
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers =
0
costing 250
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army
Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC W1 FOSTER CA
Accident Summary:
The aircraft had just taken off. The pilot made a turn to face the wind, lost RPM and settled into the water. As soon as the aircraft became buoyant, RPM was regained. The pilot then took off again. The weather was a factor due to extremely gusty and variable winds.
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-08826
The Army purchased this helicopter 0864
Total flight hours at this point: 00001980
Date: 07/15/1967
Unit: B/229 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was UNK
This was an Unknown mission
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
Not Reported
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic
projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE
The armor protecting the personnel was effective.
Unknown impact on flight.
Unknown as to mission impact.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was
created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis
Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 74280, BRL-5 (Lindenmuth
Old Format Data Base. )
Information on U.S. Army helicopter
UH-1D tail number 63-08826
The Army purchased this helicopter 0864
Total flight hours at this point: 00003045
Date: 10/09/1969 MIA-POW file reference number: 1500
Incident number: 691009301ACD Accident case number: 691009301
Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 118 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YT267273
Number killed in accident = 7 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers =
5
costing 282504
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was
created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference Notes.
Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation
Safety Center database. Also: 1500 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: DRIVER, DALLAS ALAN;
Crew Members:
P CW4 BAILEY JAMES ALBERT KIA
P W1 KILHOURNE ST
CE E4 COWHERD O
G SP5 TURNER JAMES HENRY BNR
Passengers:
SGT SUYDAM JAMES LAWRENCE, AR, PX, BNR; SGT DRIVER DALLAS ALAN,
AR, PX, BNR; PFC FIELDS ROBERT JR, AR, PX, KIA; SGT GARBETT JIMMY
RAY, AR, PX, BNR; SGT MOORE RAYMOND GREGORY, AR, PX, BNR;
REFNO Synopsis:
Personnel in Incident: James Henry Turner; Jimmy R. Garbett; Raymond
G. Moore; James L. Suydam; Dallas A. Driver; (all issing). WO
Kilbourne (the pilot - survived); unnamed crew chief, (survived
immediate crash, later drowned - remains recovered); CW4 James
W. Bailey (aircraft commander - remains recovered)
SYNOPSIS: On October 9, 1969, a UH1H helicopter crew and passengers
were attempting an extraction from a mined pickup zone in eastern
Long Khanh Province, South Vietnam near the shores of the Song
Dong Nai River.
During the extraction attempt, the helicopter's rotor blade struck
trees, causing the loss of rotor RPM's and lift capability. The
helicopter began losing altitude, turned right and headed west
and downriver in an attempt to regain air speed. Shortly thereafter,
the aircraft struck 15-20 feet of water in an almost level attitude,
and sank on its left side in less than 10 seconds.
Immediate and continuous air and water searches, loudspeaker broadcasts,
and phamplet distributions were conducted during the period of
9-15 October and 19-21 October, suspended October 16-18 only because
of poor weather conditions. No recovery was made of any of those
missing from the aircraft, but the remains of two personnel aboard
were located and subsequently identified.
A LRRP swimmer trying to inspect the site had difficulty staying
afloat even with a rope. The individual reported that equipment
seen on the shore after the crash appeared to be alternately submerged
and then reappear. It could not be determined at the time how
many persons escaped the aircraft. One who was known to escape
(unnamed in Army records) reported that he could not make it to
shore and went under. Another survivor reported seeing him go
down within 3-4 feet of him, but never saw him again. One of the
individuals who was initially seen to survive, later drowned or
was lost in the indicent.
The only survivor of the original crash was WO Kilbourne, the
pilot. The two remains located were identified as the crew chief,
who had survived the immediate crash, but later drowned. CW4 James
W. Bailey, the aircraft commander, was lost and remains recovered.
The waters of the Song Dong Nai River were swift and treacherous.
It is particularly tragic that men who survived an aircraft would
drown trying to reach safety. Driver, Garbett, Moore and Turner
were listed as Killed, Body Not Recovered. Since their remains
were never found, they are listed with honor among the missing.
Accident Summary:
AIRCRAFT WAS ON A COMBAT ASSAULT OPERATION. DURING THE MORNING THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN MAKING INSERTIONS AND EXTRACTIONS IN VARIOUS LZ'S AND PS'S. AT 1300 HOURS AIRCRAFT SHUT DOWN FOR LUNCH AT BLACK HORSE. THE FLIGHT CRANKED AGAIN AT 1415. EACH AIRCRAFT TOOK ON A FULL LOAD OF FUEL, 1400 LBS. AT 1420 THE FLIGHT LEFT BLACK HORSE ENROUTE TO THE LZ TO EXTRACT TROOPS. THE FLIGHT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. THE LX WAS A THREE-SHIP LZ. CW BAILEY'S AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE CHALK 6 POSITION, MAKING HIM THE LAST AIRCRAFT IN THE SECOND GROUP OF THREE. CW BAILEY LANDED HIS AIRCRAFT IN THE CENTER OF THE LZ WITH NO TROUBLE AND LOADED FIVE U.S. TROOPS ABOARD HIS SHIP. AT THIS TIME HE PERFORMED A THREE FOOT HOVER CHECK AND ACCORDING TO THE PILOT THE RPM BLED DOWN TO 6400. THE SHIP WAS THEN RETURNED TO THE GROUND AND ALL TROOPS REMAINED ON THE AIRCRAFT. NO ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WAS MADE UNTIL THE OTHER TWO SHIPS HAD CLEARED THE LZ, AND THEIR ROTOR WASH HAD DISSIPATED. CW BAILEY DID NOT REPOSITION TO UTILIZE THE FULL LENGTH OF THE LZ, BUT MADE HIS TAKEOFF FROM THE GROUND FROM THE POINT OF LANDING. HIS TAKEOFF HEADING WAS APPROXIMATELY 210 WHICH OFFERED THE BEST DEPARTURE ROUTE FROM THE LZ. THE WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE CALM AND NOT A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 150 FEET, THE RETREATING ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A BAMBOO THICKET WITH BAMBOO THAT WAS THREE INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE BAMBOO WAS FORTY-FIVE FEET TALL AND THE ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE BAMBOO 21 FEET FROM THE GROUND. AT THE TIME OF THE ROTOR STRIKE THE RPM WAS 6000. THE AIRCRAFT PICKED UP A SEVERE VIBRATION AFTER STRIKING THE BAMBOO. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ON A STRAIGHT COURSE AFTER THE BLADE STRIKE FOR APPROXIMATELY 75 METERS. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THEN MADE A RIGHT TURN AND MADE A BRIEF RADIO CALL STATING HE WAS GOING IN THE RIVER. AT THIS TIME, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT CW BAILEY ZEROED THE AIRSPEED AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO SETTLE IN THE WATER WHILE HE WAS APPLYING FULL PITCH. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED A ROLL TO THE LEFT. THE RETREATING BLADE STRUCK THE WATER, BROKE, CAME AROUND THE MAST AND LODGED IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE FUSELAGE. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, THE FORCE OF THE BLADE STRIKING THE WATER CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO TEAR LOSE FROM ITS MOUNTS AND COME PARTIALLY THROUGH THE FIRE WALL. AS THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE WATER THE TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE WATER CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT TO TWIST AND FINALLY BREAK AT THE 42 DEG GEAR BOX. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO ROLL TO THE LEFT UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETELY INVERTED. IT STAYED AFLOAT UPSIDE DOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY 7 TO 10 SECONDS, THEN IT CONTINUED TO ROLL TO THE LEFT SIMULTANEOUSLY SINKING NOSE FIRST. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST UNDER THE WATER WITH ONLY SIX FEET OF ROTOR BLADE REMAINING ABOVE THE SURFACE. AS THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE INTO THE RIVER, WO KILBOURNE UNSNAPPED HIS SEAT BELT AND JUMPED FROM THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE BLADE STRUCK THE WATER. HE TOOK OFF HIS BODY ARMOR BUT DID NOT DISCARD IT AND BEGAN TO SWIN TOWARDS THE SHORE. HE FOUND SP4 COWHERD A FEW FEET AWAY AND GAVE HIM HIS BODY ARMOR SINCE HE WAS CONFIDENT OF HIS ABILITY TO SWIM TO SHORE AND SP4 COWHERD WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY. WO1 KILBOURNE SWAM A LITTLE FARTHER AND NOTICED SP4 TURNER AND TRIED TO GET HIM TO GRAB A FLAK VEST THAT WAS FLOATING BY. SP4 TURNER DID NOT GRAB THE FLAK VEST, HOWEVER, AND HE WENT UNDER A FEW FEET AWAY AND WAS NOT SEEN AGAIN. WO1 KILBOURNE CONTINUED TO SWIM TOWARDS SHORE AND STOPPED ONCE TO LOOK AROUND. HE STATED THAT HE COULD SEE CW BAILEY'S FACE, BUT BAILEY WAS MUCH FARTHER OUT IN THE RIVER AND DID NOT SEEM TO BE MOVING VERY MUCH. WO KILBOURNE TURNED AND SWAN A LITTLE FURTHER WHERE HE FOUND A WATER JUG THAT HAD BEEN THROWN OUT BY ONE OF THE GUNSHIPS AND HE USED THIS TO HELP HOLD HIMSELF UP. AS HE LOOKED BACK OVER THE RIVER, HE COULD NO LONGER SEE CW BAILEY. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, ONE OF THE HELICOPTERS IN THE FLIGHT HOVERED DOWN AND PICKED UP WO KILBOURNE AND SP4 COWHERD AND FINDING NO ONE ELSE DEPARTED FOR THE MEDICAL FACILITIES AT LONG BINH.\\
This record was last updated on 09/20/1998
The following is crew member information for this incident:
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter
UH-1D tail number 63-08826
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 0864.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to
the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6610 83 1368 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6611 39 1407 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6612 77 1484 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6701 70 1554 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6702 25 1579 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6703 67 1646 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6704 101 1747 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6705 104 1851 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6706 76 1927 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6707 53 1980 WAAXB0 COB 229ABAH1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6708 59 2039 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT IN TRANSIT AVCOMCTR 6709 0 2039 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6710 0 2039 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6711 0 2039 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6712 0 2039 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6801 0 2039 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6802 0 2039 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6803 0 2039 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6804 0 2039 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6805 0 2039 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6806 0 2039 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6807 0 2039 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6808 0 2039 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6809 1 2040 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6810 15 2055 W0LYAA ACFT MAINT DIV 3RD ARMY ATLANTA GD AMC 6811 0 2055 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 58 2113 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 105 2218 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 101 2319 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 112 2431 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 105 2536 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 93 2629 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6906 148 2777 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6907 70 2847 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 116 2963 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 82 3045 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Printed from databases on: 03/05/2000
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