Accident Summary:
ON ^19 FEBRUARY 1969^, AT APPROXIMATELY ^1400^ HOUR, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ^VINH LONG^ AIRFIELD TO THE EAST ON A POST PERIODIC INSPECTION TEST FLIGHT. THE PILOT CALLED FOR A RIGHT BREAK OUT OF TRAFFIC AND THEN CONTINUED HIS CLIMB TO THE SOUTH. AS HE APPROACHED 1000' ALTITUDE AND AT AN AIRSPEED OF 60 - 70 KNOTS, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE AFT OF THE COCKPIT ACCOMPANIED BY A SEVERE VIBRATION AND A YAW TO THE RIGHT. ATTEMPTING TO GAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT BY APPLYING PEDAL, HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD LOST TAIL ROTOR CONTROL. HE THEN ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND SLOWLY REDUCED THROTTLE TO SEEK A SUITABLE POWER TO MAINTAIN THE AIRCRAFT IN A STREAM-LINED CONDITION AND TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THE VIBRATION EXPERIENCED IN THE AIRFRAME. CONTINUING HIS DESCENT, THE PILOT HEARD ANOTHER LOUD NOISE, ACCOMPANIED BY A DOWNWARD PITCHING OF THE NOSE, AND THE VIBRATION CEASED. AT THIS POINT THE PILOT REDUCED COLLECTIVE PITCH PLANNING ON A AUTOROTATIVE RUNNING LANDING. AT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ALTITUDE AND 40 - 60 KNOTS AIRSPEED, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT THE INTENDED LANDING AREA WAS NOT SUITABLE FOR A RUNNING TYPE LANDING DUE TO THE DIKES, DITCHES AND MUDDY RICE PADDY. HE IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A FLARE TO INITIATE A MINIMUM GROUND RUN TOUCHDOWN AUTOROTATION AND MEANWHILE APPLIED PITCH TO HOLD ALTITUDE. HE THEN EXPERIENCED A DRASTIC CHANGE IN ATTITUDE IN THAT THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO TURN RIGHT. COMPLETING ONE 360 DEGREE TURN, THE AIRCRAFT COMMENCED TO SPIN ALONG THE HORIZONTAL AZIS TO THE RIGHT, INCREASING IN VELOCITY AS IT TURNED. ATTEMPTING TO FOLLOW THE MOTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH CYCLIC, THE PILOT NOTICED THAT CYCLIC CONTROL FORCES WERE WANTING THE AIRCRAFT TO LEARN TO THE LEFT. AS HE SETTLED TO THE GROUND AND WITH THE AIRCRAFT TRYING TO LEAN TO THE LEFT, THE PILOT FOLLOWED THROUGH BY APPLYING LEFT CYCLIC CAUSING THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE TO STRIKE THE GROUND. THE MAST SEVERED THREE INCHES BELOW THE HUB AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS LEFT SIDE WITH THE LEFT WING, PYLON COWLING AND COCKPIT IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15463
The Army purchased this helicopter 0168
Total flight hours at this point: 00001530
Date: 10/22/1972
Accident case number: 721022041
Unit: 388 TC CO
The station for this helicopter was Saigon-Cochin China in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 18503
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P O3 REES JH
IP W2 MONETTE RJ
Accident Summary:
ACFT FELL THROUGH DURING FINAL PHASE OF AUTOROTATION.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15463
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 0168.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6801 0 0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD AVCOM 6802 0 0 3300 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6803 44 44 WGZ6T0 7TH SQ 1ST CAV VIETNAM RVN 6804 90 134 WGZ6T0 7TH SQ 1ST CAV VIETNAM RVN 6805 36 170 WGZ6T0 7TH SQ 1ST CAV VIETNAM RVN 6806 177 347 WGZ6T0 7TH SQ 1ST CAV VIETNAM RVN 6807 87 434 WGZ6T0 7TH SQ 1ST CAV VIETNAM RVN 6808 98 532 WGZ6B0 TRPB 7SQ 1AIRCV VIETNAM RVN 6809 43 575 WGZ6B0 TRPB 7SQ 1AIRCV VIETNAM RVN 6810 68 643 WGZ6B0 TRPB 7SQ 1AIRCV VIETNAM RVN 6811 88 731 WGZ6B0 TRPB 7SQ 1AIRCV VIETNAM RVN 6812 43 774 WGZ6B0 TRPB 7SQ 1AIRCV VIETNAM RVN 6901 53 827 WGZ6B0 TRPB 7SQ 1AIRCV VIETNAM RVN 6902 16 843 WCLUAA 611 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 6903 0 843 WCLUAA 611 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN 6904 0 843 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6905 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6906 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6907 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6908 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6909 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6910 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6911 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6912 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7001 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7002 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7003 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7004 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7005 0 843 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7006 6 849 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7007 0 849 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7008 36 885 WAB0B0 B TP 2-17 101AB VIETNAM RVN 7009 48 933 WAB0B0 B TP 2-17 101AB VIETNAM RVN 7010 32 965 WAB0B0 B TP 2-17 101AB VIETNAM RVN 7011 64 1029 WAB0B0 B TP 2-17 101AB VIETNAM RVN 7012 7 1036 WAB0B0 B TP 2-17 101AB VIETNAM RVN 7101 64 1100 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7102 44 1144 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7103 55 1199 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7104 27 1226 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7105 60 1286 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7106 43 1329 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7107 66 1395 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7108 21 1416 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7109 3 1419 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7110 22 1441 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7111 71 1512 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7112 2 1514 WAB0B0 2 17 ACV B TRP VIETNAM RVN 7201 9 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7202 0 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7203 0 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7204 0 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7205 0 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7206 0 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7207 0 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7208 0 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7209 0 1523 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7210 7 1530 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7211 0 1530 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7212 49 1579 WCLSAA C TRP 16TH ACV VIETNAM RVN 7301 24 1603 WCLSAA C TRP 16TH ACV VIETNAM RVN 7302 0 1603 W0Y6AA AVSCOM PROJECT LOAN ST LOUIS AVSCOM 7303 0 1603 W0Y6AA AVSCOM PROJECT LOAN ST LOUIS AVSCOM 7304 0 1603 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM 7305 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7306 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7307 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7308 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7309 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7310 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7311 0 1603 W0MUAA SUPPLY DIV 5TH ARMY FORT SILL TRADOC 7312 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7401 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7402 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7403 0 1603 W0MUAA SUPPLY DIV 5TH ARMY FORT KNOX TRADOC 7404 0 1603 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7405 0 1603 W0MUAA INST MAINT FLT 1ST ARMY FT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7406 0 1603 W0MUAA INST MAINT FLT 1ST ARMY FT CAMPBELL FORSCOM 7410 0 1605 W3REAA DIR OF IND SUP HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS HAWAII 7411 2 1607 W3REAA DIR OF IND SUP HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS HAWAII 7412 6 1613 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7501 4 1617 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7502 18 1635 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7503 16 1651 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7504 11 1662 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7505 16 1678 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7506 9 1687 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7507 3 1690 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7508 7 1697 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7509 1 1698 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7510 10 1708 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7511 32 1740 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM 7512 3 1743 WAX9AA 118TH AVN CO HAWAII SCHOFIELD BKS FORSCOM
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Printed from databases on: 03/05/2000
Return to Main Index
Copyright © 1998 and 1999 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association