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57th Assault Helicopter Co.
57th AHC
Gladiators - Cougars

Goldbook Info - UH-1C 66-15079

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15079
The Army purchased this helicopter 0467
Total flight hours at this point: 00000158
Date: 12/12/67
Unit: 355 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 1500 feet and UNK knots.
Classified
Helicopter took 4 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Left Side
Systems damaged were: FUEL SYS, STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYS
It is unknown or not reported if the self sealing fuel tank developed a leak.
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 74426, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15079
The Army purchased this helicopter 0467
Total flight hours at this point: 00000850
Date: 12/30/68
Unit: 57 AHC
South Vietnam
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15079
The Army purchased this helicopter 0467
Total flight hours at this point: 00000850
Date: 12/30/68
Accident case number: 681230071 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 57 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Kontum in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 4 . . Passengers = 0
costing 216914
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 RANES JW
P W1 KIRKBRIDE M
CE ALLAIRE RP
G BILBY DR

Accident Summary: AT APPROXIMATELY ^0250, 30 DEC 68^, A TACTICAL EMERGENCY WAS THOUGHT TO EXIST AND THE COUGARS WERE TO LAUNCH IMMEDIATELY TO ASSIST A LRRP TEAM. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND PILOT BOTH BELIEVED THE TEAM TO BE IN CONTACT, ADDING TO THEIR SENSE OF URGENCY TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION. THE LIGHT FIRE TEAMS AIRCRAFT WERE PARKED IN THE STANDBY REVETTED AREA SHOWN IN DISPLAY #1. BEING THE STANDBY FIRE TEAM, A PREFLIGHT HAD BEEN COMPLETED EARLIER IN THE EVENING. AIRCRAFT ^66-15079^ WAS CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE MISSION READY, TO INCLUDE A COMPLETE CHECK OF THE LIGHTS, AND POSITIONING THE SEARCH LIGHT TO THE DESIRED POSITION FOR HOVERING. WHEN THE CREW WAS ALERTED, THEY RESPONDED QUICKLY AND STARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THEY WAITED FOR THE LEAD SHIP TO TAXI FROM THE REVETMENT NUMBER 134. THE CREW HAD TO FURTHER WAIT FOR THE DUST TO SETTLE AFTER THE LEAD SHIP HAD REPOSITIONED. AFTER THE DUST SETTLED, ^WO RANES^ BEGAN TO REPOSITION. AFTER PICKING UP TO A TWO FOOT HOVER AND MOVING FORWARD OUT OF THE REVETMENT, THE DUST BECAME SO THICK, IT REDUCED HIS VISION. HE CONTINUED OUT OF THE REVETMENT AND THE SEARCH LIGHT FAILED. THE SEARCH LIGHT FAILURE MAY HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, AN INTERNAL FAILURE OR MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY FLYING DEBRIS. THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED TO SUCH AN EXTENT, THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AFTER THE LOSS OF THE LIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER CONTINUED OUT OF THE REVETMENT (GROUND REFERENCE WAS MINIMAL AT THIS TIME) AND INITIATED A RIGHT PEDAL TURN, APPARENTLY HOPING THE VISIBILITY WOULD GET BETTER AS HE PROGRESSED TOWARD THE ACTIVE. THE DUST BECAME THICKER AND HE LOST GROUND CONTACT. HE WAS OBVIOUSLY INTENT ON COMPLETING HIS MISSION OR OTHERWISE UNDECIDED AS HE MADE NO ATTEMPT AT THIS TIME TO SIT THE AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND. HE RESPONDED WITH AFT CYCLIC STARTING BACKWARD AND PROBABLY MAKING POWER CHANGES, AS IN STATEMENTS FROM THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND THE PILOT, THE AIRCRAFT STARTED ARCHING BACK AND FORTH TWO OR THREE TIMES. NEITHER THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER NOR THE PILOT REFERRED TO THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR THROUGH OUT THE OPERATION. THEIR FIRST REACTION WAS TO RECYCLE THE LIGHT AND IN THEIR ATTEMPTS, THEY APPARENTLY TRIGGERED THE LANDING LIGHT EXTEND-RETACT SWITCH, RETRACTING THE LANDING LIGHT. AT THIS TIME GROUND REFERENCE WAS MADE BY THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH ARC. MEANWHILE, THE PILOT WAS LOWERING HIS WINDOW FOR A BETTER VISION. THE TWO CREW MEMBERS ASSERT THAT THE SHIP WENT BACK AND FORTH TWO OR THREE TIMES (THEY HAD A VISUAL REFERENCE ON SURROUND ROCKS). THE CREW CHIEF AND GUNNER WERE ABLE TO VIEW THE ROCKS BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE NAVIGATIONAL LIGHTS, PRECLUDING THE PREMISE OF TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. AFTER TWO OR THREE ARCS BACK AND FORTH THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TURNED THE AIRCRAFT OVER TO THE PILOT. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT STATES THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXTREMELY NOSE HIGH AND LOSING RPM. TO CORRECT HE LOWERED COLLECTIVE AND APPLIED FORWARD CYCLIC. BOTH PILOTS WERE TOTALLY DISORIENTED AT THIS TIME. NEITHER REMEMBERS WHAT ACTIONS WERE TAKEN THEN. FROM THE MARKINGS ON THE ROAD AND THE SEPARATION MARKINGS ON THE RIGHT SKID PLUS OTHER LESS OBVIOUS CLUES, THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT HAPPENED: THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TURNED THE AIRCRAFT OVER TO THE PILOT AT A TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOVING NORTHWARD TO THE REAR AT MORE THAN A 3 FOOT HOVER WHICH IS POSSIBLE CONSIDERING THE TEMPERATURE AND DENSITY ALTITUDE. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT BEGAN LOWERING THE PITCH AND APPLYING FORWARD CYCLIC, AS THE AIRCRAFT, MOVED NORTH ACROSS THE CONCERTINA WIRE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED LOSING ALTITUDE AS IT CROSSED THE CONCERTINA, ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE TAIL BOOM TO STRIKE THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD. (THE POINT OF CONTACT BEING THE AFTMOST PORTION OF THE TAIL BOOM AND FORWARD SECTION OF THE STINGER WHICH IS POSSIBLE CONSIDERING THE DITCH BORDERING THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD). THE CRUSHED LOWER TIP OF THE TRAIL BOOM VERIFIES THIS. THE IMPACT WAS OF SUFFICIENT FORCE TO BUCKLE THE TAIL BOOM AND CRACK THE TAIL ROTOR HOUSING. THE DRIVE SHAFT FLEXED BEYOND LIMITS, CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR CONTROL CHAIN TO SNAP. IT SERVED THROUGH THE COWLING HINGES ON THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE VERTICAL STABILIZER. TO THIS POINT THERE HAD BEEN NO TAIL ROTOR CONTRACT. ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE TAIL BOOM IMPACT, THE HEEL OF THE RIGHT SKID ENGAGED THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SEPARATED FROM THE CROSS TUBE. BACKWARD MOVEMENT ON CONTACT IS INDICATED BY THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THE BOLTS SHEERED WHEN THE RIGHT SKID SEPARATED FROM THE CROSS TUBE. THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE CONCERTINA FENCE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK A FENCE POST. ON CONTACT THE AIRCRAFT WAS THROWN INTO THE CONCERTINA WIRE. THE FINAL IMPACT DISLODGED THE 90 DEGREE GEAR BOX AND IT FELL TO THE GROUND, REMAINING INTACT WITH THE TAIL ROTOR BLADE. THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES ON IMPACT SEPARATED IN MANY SMALL PIECES AND COVERED A 100 METER AREA.
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15079
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 0467.
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
6704   0    0 W0Y6AA TRAN MDMHELCO S  ALASKA                      ALASKA
6705   0    0 W0Y6AA TRAN MDMHELCO S  ALASKA                      ALASKA
6706   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6707   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6708   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6709   0    0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR
6710   0    0 3285   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM
6711  67   67 3285   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6712  91  158 3285   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6801   8  166 3285   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6802   0  166 3285   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6803  95  261 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6804  59  320 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6805  49  369 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6806  52  421 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6807  66  487 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6808  70  557 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6809  78  635 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6810  54  689 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6811  64  753 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6812  97  850 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN
6901   0  850 WAX5AA 57 AVN CO AM FW  VIETNAM                     RVN

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00
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