Helicopter UH-1D 65-12863

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 65-12863
The Army purchased this helicopter 0966
Total flight hours at this point: 00000703
Date: 06/13/1967
Unit: 174 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Troop Extraction , Hot Area.
While on Landing Zone this helicopter was on the Ground at 0000 feet and 000 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 Passenger Cargo Section
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = YES . .
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: UH1P2, 72884 ()


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 65-12863
The Army purchased this helicopter 0966
Total flight hours at this point: 00001554
Date: 01/16/1968
Accident case number: 680116011
Unit: 174 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Duc Pho in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 34086
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 DONAHUE JC
P O3 CAYTON GR

Accident Summary:

Engine failed resulting in a hard landing in a rice paddy. Engine failure due to fuel pump failure and fuel filter quick disconnect was not properly seated

This record was last updated on 01/05/1997


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 65-12863
The Army purchased this helicopter 0966
Total flight hours at this point: 00003058
Date: 11/24/1969
Incident number: 691124211ACD Accident case number: 691124211 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 118 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 452096
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P WO1 PERKINS ALLEN DEAN KIA
P WO1 ARMSTRONG CHARLES JOSEPH KIA
CE SP4 BARRERA RAUL ROY JR KIA
G SP4 GONZALES MICHAEL FILBERT KIA

Passengers:
O4 BP HANCOCK, LCO, G;


Accident Summary:

THE UH-1D, ^66-771^, PILOTED BY CAPTAIN ^LEMIEUX^ AND ^LT WILCOX^, DEPARTED ^SPARTAN^ HELIPORT AT ^0730 HOURS^ ON ^24 NOVEMBER 1969^ AS THE LEAD AIRCRAFT IN A FLIGHT OF EIGHT. THEY WERE FOLLOWED BY A UH-1D, ^65-12,63^, PILOTED BY ^WO PERKINS^ AND ^WOARMSTRONG^, FLYING AS CHOCK TWO. THEY WERE ENROUTE TO ^XUAN LOC, RVN^, TO PERFORM A COMBAT ASSAULT OPERATION IN SUPPORT OF THE ^199TH LT INF, BDE^. THE AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATION AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS WITHOUT PASSENGERS, BASIC AIRCRAFT AND A FULL LOAD OF FUEL. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED ^SPARTAN^ HELIPAD WITH A NORTH DEPARTURE AND A WEST TURNOUT. AT APPROXIMATELY ^0740 HOURS^. THE FIRST FOUR AIRCRAFT HAD JOINED IN A DIAMOND FORMATION AT 300 FEET INDICATED AND 60 KNOTS. ^CPT LEMIEUX^ THEN ACCELERATED THE FLIGHT TO 80 KNOTS AND RELINQUISHED THE CONTROLS TO HIS PILOT, ^LT WILCOX^. IT UNKNOWN, NOR CAN IT BE ESTABLISHED, WHO WAS THE PILOT AT THE CONTROLS OF CHOCK TWO. THE FLIGHT WAS FLYING A HEADING OF 055 DEGREES AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP. IT WAS NOTICED BY SEVERAL WITNESSES IN TRAILING SHIPS THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, CHOCK TWO WAS FLYING EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. AT ^0745 HOURS^, AS THE FLIGHT WAS PASSING APPROXIMATELY ONE NAUTICAL MILE NORTH OF PLANTATION HELIPORT, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF CHOCK TWO CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TIP OF ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE OF THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. AS A RESULT OF MESHING ROTOR BLADES, CHOCK TWO BEGAN TO BANK RIGHT AND DESCEND RAPIDLY. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, THE MAIN ROTOR ASSEMBLY AND TRANSMISSION SEPARATED FROM CHCOK TWO. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE TAIL BOOM THREE TIMES AND SHEARED ITS TAILBOOM AFT OF THE SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR. DUE TO SEVERE MAST BUMPING, THE MAST WAS SHEARED JUST BELOW THE MAIN ROTOR HEAD, SEPARATING THE MAIN ROTOR SYSTEM FROM THE MAIN TRANSMISSION. THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE IN FLIGHT. ONE CREWMEMBER WAS OBSERVED LEAVING THE SHIP DURING THE DESCENT AT APPROXIMATELY 10-20 FEET. UPON IMPACT, THE UH-1D HIT THE GROUND LEVEL, IN A SLIGHT RIGHT SIDE LOW ATTITUDE IN A HEADING OF 060 DEGREES. THE SHIP EXPLODED AND WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, OTHER AIRCRAFT OF THE FLIGHT LANDED IMMEDIATELY AND RESCUE ATTEMPTS WERE MADE BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE. AN AIR FORCE RESCUE HELICOPTER ARRIVED FROM ^BIEN HOA^ AIR BASE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AND FOAMED THE BURNING WRECKAGE. NO MOVEMENT WAS OBSERVED IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE UH-1D BURNED COMPLETELY BEFORE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED FROM ^PLANTATION ARMY^ AIRFIELD TO COMPLETELY CONTAIN THE FIRE. SUBSEQUENT TO THE BLADE STRIKE, ^CPT ^LEMIEUX^ TOOK THE CONTROLS AND HIS AIRCRAFT WENT INTO A DESCENDING LEFT HAND TURN. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO BE LOSING ROTOR RPM AND IT HAD A SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. ^CPT ^LEMIEUX^ HAD NO PEDAL CONTROL AND ONLY ABLE TO MOVE HIS CYCLIC IN A RADIUS OF 2 OR 3 INCHES. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO LOWER HIS COLLECTIVE. BEFORE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND, HE WAS ABLE TO DIMINISH THE FORWARD AIRSPEED OF HIS AIRCRAFT. AT APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET AGL, ALL REMAINING COLLECTIVE PITCH, APPROXIMATELY 7 INCHES, WAS APPLIED TO CUSHION THE AIRCRAFT'S IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED EXTREMELY HARD ON A HEADING OF 240 DEGREES, TEARING THE TAILBOOM FORWARD OF THE SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR AND CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO PITCH FORWARD, AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND THREE TIMES. ^LT WILCOX'S^ SEAT WAS PULLED BACK AND ALL THE CREW MEMBERS WERE CLEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT, ^CPT LEMIEUX^, UTILIZING THE AIRCRAFT FIRE EXTINGUISHER, PUT OUT A FIRE IN THE ENGINE AREA CAUSED BY FOREIGN OBJECTS PENETRATING THE COMPRESSOR WALL.\\

This record was last updated on 09/20/1998


The following is crew member information for this incident:


Name: SP4 Raul Roy Barrera, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/24/1969 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 22.6
Date of Birth: 04/13/1947
Home City: Newark, CA
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 118 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 16W-114
Short Summary: Mid-air when forming up over Long Binh.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-12863
SSN: 569728909
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N2F = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: unknown
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: 01/25/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/24/1994



Name: SP4 Michael Filbert Gonzales
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/24/1969 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 21.6
Date of Birth: 04/04/1948
Home City: Glenwood Springs, CO
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 118 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 16W-117
Short Summary: Mid-air when forming up over Long Binh.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-12863
SSN: 522588297
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67A1F = Aircraft Maintenance Apprentice
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 02/06/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/28/1994



Name: WO1 Charles Joseph Armstrong
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/24/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 21.5
Date of Birth: 06/09/1948
Home City: Lutherville, MD
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 118 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-21
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 16W-114
Short Summary: Mid-air when forming up formation over Long Binh w/ Allen Perkins.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-12863
SSN: 144401179
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Mid-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 09/01/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/29/1994



Name: WO1 Allen Dean Perkins
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/24/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.2
Date of Birth: 09/13/1947
Home City: West Linn, OR
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 118 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-43
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 16W-118
Short Summary: Mid-air when forming up over Long Binh with Charles Joseph Armstrong. Vaughan's best friend in WOC school. Killed after transfer to 118
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 65-12863
SSN: 544545780
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Mid-Air
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: unknown
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 02/24/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 03
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/28/1994


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 65-12863
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 0966.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

 

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6610   0    0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        SUPMACOM         
6611  52   52 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6612 120  172 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6701   0  172 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6702  27  199 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6703 154  353 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6704 121  474 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6705 117  591 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6706 112  703 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6707 135  838 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6708 126  964 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6709 135 1099 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6710  82 1181 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6711 125 1306 WC42AA 174 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN     
6712 166 1472 WC42AA 174 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6801  82 1554 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
6802   0 1554 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
6803   0 1554 WCLQAA 335 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
6804   0 1554 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6805   0 1554 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6806   2 1556 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM          
6807   0 1556 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM          
6808   0 1556 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM          
6809   0 1556 3300   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
6810 145 1701 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6811 121 1822 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6812 126 1948 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6901  94 2042 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6902 100 2142 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6903 102 2244 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6904  36 2280 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6905 135 2415 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906 143 2558 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907  94 2652 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908 108 2760 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909  97 2857 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910 129 2986 WAX9AA 118 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  72 3058 WFQ8AA 165 TC DS 34 GP  VIETNAM                     RVN     


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Painted Post, NY 14870


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Printed from databases on: 03/05/2000

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