Accident Summary:
THE FLIGHT ORIGINIATED AT ^PHAN THIET^ AT ^0740 HOURS^ ON ^2 DEC 1968^. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PREFLIGHTED BY THE CREW MEMBERS BEFORE DEPARTURE. ENROUTE TO ^BAO LOC^ A GROUND OR LOW CLOUD LAYER WAS ENCOUNTERED. UPON ARRIVAL AT ^BAO LOC^ AT ^0830^ THE GROUND FOG PERSISTED. THE PILOT CHECKED AND DECIDED TO ORBIT THE AREA, AWAITING BURN-OFF OF THE GROUND FOG. THE PILOT THEN FOUND AN OPENING IN THE GROUND FOG AND DECIDED TO TRY AND ACCOMPLISH A LANDING TO THE AIRFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE OPENING, DURING DESCENT, ON A HEADING OF 225 DEG AND MADE A LEFT TURN TO CONTINUE HIS DESCENT THROUGH THE OPENING. VISIBILITY DECREASED AND THE PILOT REDUCED AIRSPEED TO MAINTAIN HIS POSITION WITHIN THE OPENING. AS THE AIRCRAFT LOST ALTITUDE, AND AT 50-75 FEET AGL, THE PILOT APPLIED POWER TO 42-45 POUNDS OF TORQUE. AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 0-5 KTS. THE AIRCRAFT LOST TRANSLATIONAL LIFT, SHUDDERED AND YAWED AN ESTIMATED 40 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY RIGHT PEDAL BUT IT "KICKED BACK" AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN APPLICATION OFRIGHT PEDAL. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED SPINNING TO THE LEFT MAKING 4-6 REVOLUTIONS. THE PILOT CUT THE THROTTLE, SLOWING THE SPIN, AND MADE A HOVERING AUTOROTATION. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HEADING SOUTHEAST ON A 10 DEGREE SLOPE (RUNNING NORTH TO SOUTH) WITH NEGATIVE GROUND RUN, IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN A SLOW TURN TO THE LEFT CAUSING IT TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE PASSENGERS AND CREW EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE ENGINE WAS STILL OPERATING, SO THE PILOT WENT BACK TO THE AIRCRAFT AND SHUT IT DOWN. THE ENGINE STOPPED OF ITS OWN ACCORD BEFORE MANUAL SHUTDOWN COULD BE COMPLETED.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17609
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 0668.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196806 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 196807 0 0 3300 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 196808 98 98 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196809 142 240 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196810 50 290 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 196811 54 344 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN
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Printed from databases on: 12/28/2016
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