ACFT ATTEMPTING TO EXTRACT TEAM IN HVY CONTACT & WAS FORCED TO GO INTO UNSUITABLE LZ BY SITUATION TEAM WAS PINNED DOWN BY HVYEN FIRE & IN TRYING TO HOVER AS CLOSE TO TEAM AS POSSIBLE ACFT EXPC BLADE STRIKE ICDT DAM \
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16420
The Army purchased this helicopter 1169
Total flight hours at this point: 00000586
Date: 11/11/1970
Accident case number: 701111131 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 173 ABN
The station for this helicopter was Bong Son in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 4 . . Passengers = 0
costing 244345
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. )
Crew Members:
AC W2 LAUCK RW
CP W1 WATKINS RK
CE E3 HUNNICUTT HJ
G E3 FISHER FA
Accident Summary:
AFTER ATTEMPTING AIRLIFT OF EMPTY CONEX CONTAINER, AIRCRAFT #68-16420 WAS REFUELED AT LZ ENGLISH. WHILE FUELING THE AIRCRAFT, AIRCRAFT COMMANDER LAUCK INSTRUCTED CREWCHIEF TO CHECK FOR SOURCE OF SMOKE NOTICED EARLIER ON ATTEMPTED AIRLIFT. NEGATIVE RESULTS. AIRCRAFT COMPLETED REFUELING AND CALLED FOR DEPARTURE. ON INITIAL CLIMB OUT, DISSIPATION OF MAIN ROTOR RPM NOTICED. AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TOOK CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT FROM CO-PILOT WATKINS AND INITIATED AUTOROTATION. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO RIVER BANK COMING TO REST IN NOSE UP POSITION, RECEIVING MAJOR DAMAGE. CREW PICKED UP BY UNKNOWN SHIP AND FLOWN TO AID STATION, FOR EVENTUAL TRANSFER TO HOSPITAL.\\
War Story:
Although this helicopter was written off as the result of this incident, it was later rebuilt and returned to service.
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16420
Date: 710400
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XU570000
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: VNAF (South Vietnamese Air Force. )
Loss to Inventory
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16420
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 1169.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196911 0 0 3300 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 196912 136 136 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 197001 124 260 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 197002 107 367 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 197003 39 406 WC5CAA 604 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 197004 0 406 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197005 0 406 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197006 1 407 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 197007 0 407 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 197008 80 487 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 197009 25 512 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 197010 57 569 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 197011 17 586 WARJAA HQ 173AIRBN BDE VIETNAM RVN 197012 0 586 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 197101 0 586 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN
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Printed from databases on: 12/28/2016
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