Engine failure resulted in a forced landing in salt water. Engine failure was caused by failure on the N1 turbine wheel blade.
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13878
Date: 06/10/1969
Accident case number: 690610221
Unit: 118 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 300
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC W1 BOYD TL
Accident Summary:
ACFT LDG ON TREE STUMP HIDDEN UNDER GRASS ICDT DAM \
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13878
The Army purchased this helicopter 1165
Total flight hours at this point: 00002413
Date: 06/14/1969
Accident case number: 690614141 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 118 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 3 . . Passengers = 5
costing 237504
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 KILPELA TJ
P W1 BARTLEY SL
CE E4 MAZEROLLE AP
G E4 HIRSCHELMAN RS
Passengers:
X1 NQ LAM, PAX, D;
X1 VC NGUYEN, PAX, D;
O3 CJ ROONEY, PAX, D;
E6 MR HARLOW, PAX, G;
E6 LF BLASS, PAX, G;
Accident Summary:
THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST DEPARTED THE BIEN HOA SOCCER FIELD AND WAS ENROUTE TO XUAN LOC AN A DIRECT COMBAT SUPPORT MISSION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING 090, ON THE NORTH SIDE OF HIGHWAY QL1, THREE MILES NORTHEAST OF THE PLANTATION AIRFIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 500' AGL. THE PILOT WAS AT THE CONTROLS WHEN HE NOTICED A DECREASE IN RPM FROM 6600 TO 6400 AND SLOWLY DECREASING. AT THIS TIME, HE ATTEMPTED TO BEEP UP THE GOVERNOR AND THERE WAS NEGATIVE RESULTS. THE PILOT THEN NOTED THE N1 TO BE STABILIZED AT 60%. HE INITIATED AUTOROTATION AND INFORMED THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOOK THE AIRCRAFT AT APPROXIMATELY 350' AGL. INSTRUMENT READINGS WERE N1 60%, 5800 RPM STABILIZED. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THEN INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO PLACE THE GOVERNOR SWITCH IN THE EMERGENCY POSITION. WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS PUT IN THE EMERGENCY POSITION, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT RECYCLED THE EMERGENCY SWITCH WITH NEGATIVE RESPONSE FROM THE AIRCAAFT WITH THE THROTTLE IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION. THE A/C HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SUUTABLE FORCED LANDING AREA IN SIGHT AND HE INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO PLACE THE UHF RADIO IN THE GUARD POSITION. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE SWITCH IN THE GUARD TRANSMIT BUT MISTOOK THE MANUAL POSITION FOR THE GUARD TRANSMIT POSITION AND THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY CALL MADE OVER GUARD. WHEN THE A/C WAS ON SHORT FINAL FOR THE FORCED LANDING AREA HE NOTICED LARGE MOUNDS OF DIRT WHICH WERE THREE TO FOUR FEET HIGH. THESE MOUNDS WERE NOT VISIBLE FROM 50' (SEE PHOTO 3-1). HE THEN ELECTED TO ZERO HIS AIRSPEED AND ATTEMPTED TO DROP VERTICALLY BETWEEN TWO MOUNDS OF DIRT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM ROLLING. THE A/C FLARED THE AIRCRAFT AT 50', ZEROED HIS AIRSPEED, LEVELED THE AIRCRAFT AND DROPPED VERTICALLY FROM APPROXIMATELY 15'. HE THEN PULLED ALL HIS PITCH AND THE AIRCRAFT HIT LEVEL AND VERY HARD. THE RIGHT SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR STRUCK A MOUND OF DIRT AND ROTATED 90 FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT (SEE PHOTOS 3-2 AN D 3-3). ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE WAS BROKEN WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT DUE TO FLEXING DOWN AND STRIKING THE MOUND OF DIRT IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT (SEE PHOTOS 3-4 AND 3-5). THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT CHANGE DIRECTOIN ON IMPACT AND THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. THE CREW SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND AWAITED ASSISTANCE.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13878
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 1165.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6610 124 752 WC3JAA 129 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6611 33 785 WC3JAA 129 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6612 0 785 WC3JAA 129 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6701 16 801 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6702 103 904 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6703 75 979 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6704 105 1084 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6705 153 1237 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6706 51 1288 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6707 129 1417 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6708 169 1586 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6709 127 1713 WC3JAA 129 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6710 0 1713 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6711 0 1713 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6712 0 1713 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6801 0 1713 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6802 0 1713 8005 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6803 0 1713 8005 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6804 0 1713 8005 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 0 1713 8005 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6806 0 1713 8005 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6807 0 1713 8005 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 6808 0 1713 3300 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6809 43 1756 WDU2AA HHC 268 CBT AB VIETNAM RVN 6810 62 1818 WDU2AA HHC 268 CBT AB VIETNAM RVN 6811 50 1868 WDU2AA HHC 268 CBT AB VIETNAM RVN 6812 59 1927 WDU2AA HHC 268 CBT AB VIETNAM RVN 6901 69 1996 WDU2AA HHC 268 CBT AB VIETNAM RVN 6902 63 2059 WCYNAA HHC 145 AVN BN VIETNAM RVN 6903 77 2136 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 119 2255 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 158 2413 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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