Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail
number 68-15549
The Army purchased this helicopter 0469
Total flight hours
at this point: 00000828
Date: 12/20/69
Accident case number: 691220121
Unit: 57 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Kontum in South
Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 6 . . Passengers =
5
costing 106138
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.
)
Summary: Tree strike on lift out from sloping LZ. Tail rotor failure.
Rolled down slope after hovering autorotation.
Loss to Inventory
Crew
Members:
AC O3 KNIERIEM GL
P W1 EGGL FG
CE E3 STEINHAGEN PL
G O3
MICHAELS TE
Passengers:
*** LOCAL C O, LCO, G; *** LV KIT, OGY, D;
*** HV TAN, OGY, D; *** L THIEN, OGY, D; E4 PUGSLEY, OGY, D;
Accident Summary:
The aircraft was assigned to carry troops into a LZ on a slope in a
semi-cleared area. Several aircraft had already dropped off their loads, when
549 went into the LZ. Due to the slope of the hill and brush and small trees the
passengers had to exist the aircraft while it hovered over the LZ. As the
aircraft started to depart the LZ the tail rotor struck a small tree, causing
anti-torque failure. The aircraft started to turn to the right and as it turned
180 degrees, the aircraft commander initiated a hovering autorotation. The main
rotor blades struck the hill and as the aircraft touched down it rolled to the
right down the hill coming to rest inverted approximately 5 feet from the point
of the tail rotor strike
War Story:
The 57th AHC's unit history states that aircraft 540,
commanded by CPT Gerald Knieriem lost its tail rotor in a LZ and crashed. The
entire crew escaped with only minor injuries
This record was last updated on 04/18/98
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
68-15549
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 0469.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
Tabular Data unavailable on mobile device
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY
6904 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR
6905 82 82 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6906 123 205 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6907 78 283 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6908 117 400 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6909 126 526 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6910 127 653 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6911 113 766 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW VIETNAM RVN
6912 62 828 WC5CAA 572ND MI DET VIETNAM RVN
Printed from databases on: 08/27/00
