Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-00889
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00002111
Date: 05/08/1969
Accident case number: 690508221 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 190 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YT003110
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 5 . . Passengers = 3
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 W1 VILA LA
P X1 SON HW
CE E4 VOLLMER DG
G E4 STEWART RC
Passengers:
E4 WF LITTLE, GM, D;
E4 KM SMITH, GM, D;
E4 GM STRETT, GM, D;
Accident Summary:
THE AIRCRAFT OF THE ^190TH ASLT HEL CO^ EXIT THE REVETMENTS AND DEPART THE HELIPORT SINGLE SHIP IN ACCORDANCE TO THEIR ASSIGNED POSITION IN THE FLIGHT. ^WO-1 VILA^ BROUGHT HIS AIRCRAFT UP TO A TWO FOOT HOVER, RECEIVED CLEARANCE FROM THE CREWCHIEF AND GUNNER, AND TURNED THE TAIL OF THE SHIP TO THE RIGHT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 DEG. HE THEN HOVERED OUT AND TO THE REAR TO CLEAR THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE FRONT OF THE REVETMENT. AS HE STARTED TO ALIGN HIS AIRCRAFT FOR DEPARTURE, HIS TAIL ROTOR MADE CONTACT WITH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF AIRCRAFT ^66-769^ PARKED IN A-7 REVETMENT TO THE REAR. THE RED TAIL ROTOR BLADE OF ^889^ WAS SEVERED APPROXIMATELY 15 INCHES FROM THE BASE OF THE BLADE. THIS OUT OF BALANCE CONDITION CAUSED THE CASING OF THE 90 DEG GEAR BOX TO CRACK, ALLOWING THE ASSEMBLY TO MOVE UP AND TO THE REAR INTO THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF ^769^. AS THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES OF ^769^ STRUCK THE RED TAIL ROTOR BLADE GRIP, THE GEAR BOX AND THE HUB WERE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER. THE GEAR BOX WAS THROWN PARALLEL TO AIRCRAFT ^889^ APPROXIMATELY 100 FT. INTO A-5 REVETMENT CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO THE TAIL PIPE FAIRING OF AIRCRAFT ^66-409^. THE WHITE TAIL ROTOR BLADE CAME TO REST BETWEEN THE TWO DAMAGED AIRCRAFT. THE LOSS OF ANTITORQUE CONTROL OF ^889^ CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT HIT HARD ON THE LEFT SKID CAUSING THE FUSELAGE TO ROLL TO THE LEFT ON THE CROSSTUBES. IN THIS UNUSUAL ATTITUDE, THE LEFT SYNCHRONIZED ELEVATOR AND MAIN ROTOR TIP PATH PLANE STRUCK THE ASPHALT. THE BLACK BLADE SHATTERED, IMBEDDING SMALL PIECES OF THE BLADE.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-00889
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 1166.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196611 0 0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD SUPMACOM 196612 0 0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD SUPMACOM 196701 0 0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 196702 52 52 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN 6TH ARMY SHARPE GD AVCOM 196703 144 196 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196704 75 271 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196705 0 271 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196706 88 359 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196707 74 433 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196708 62 495 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196709 94 589 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196710 89 678 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196711 72 750 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196712 8 758 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196801 89 847 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196802 114 961 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196803 137 1098 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196804 151 1249 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196805 123 1372 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196806 101 1473 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196807 110 1583 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196808 157 1740 WFELAA 162 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196809 144 1884 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196810 150 2034 WC41AA 173 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 196811 0 2034 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 196812 0 2034 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196901 0 2034 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN TRANSIT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196902 0 2034 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196903 3 2037 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 196904 74 2111 WDUWAA 190 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
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Printed from databases on: 12/28/2016
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