Helicopter UH-1H 68-16592

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16592
The Army purchased this helicopter 1269
Total flight hours at this point: 00000821
Date: 07/01/1970
Accident case number: 700701221 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 335 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bear Cat in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 2 . . 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. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC W1 MURPHY RB
OB E4 WATSON DL

Accident Summary:

AIRCRAFT 68-16592 DEPARTED CAN THO AIRFIELD TO THE WEST AT 1630 HOURS, 1 JULY 1970. IT WAS A CIRCLED RED X CONDITION ONE TIME FLIGHT TO BEARCAT DUE TO A FILLER COMPOUND COMING LOOSE AROUND A PATCH IN THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE. THE AIRCRAFT TURNED LEFT AFTER DEPARTING RUNWAY 26 AND CLIMBED TO 700 FEET AND 90 KNITS HEADING APPROXIMATELY 150, TOWARDS THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF CAN THO CITY AND THE RIVER. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER SAID HE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PULLED LEFT. AN INSTANT LOSS OF POWER WAS NOTED AND ROTOR RPM BLED TO 290 RPM BEFORE HE LOWERED THE COLLECTIVE AND ENTERED AUTOROTATION. HE TURNED THE AIRCRAFT 180 TO THE LEFT LOOKING FOR A TOUCHDOWN SITE ON THE ROAD RUNNING EAST TO WEST ALONG THE RACH CAN THO RIVER. AN APPARENTLY SUFFICIENT SITE WAS PICKED BUT WAS SUDDENLY OCCUPIED WITH 12 TO 20 VIETNAMESE CHILDREN WHO FILLED THE ROAD WHEN THEY HEARD THE AIRCRAFT. AT THE LAST MOMENT THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ELECTED TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT IN THE RIVER APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET OFF SHORE. HE FLARED HIS AIRCRAFT AND BLED OFF HIS RPM 50 TO 75 FEET ABOVE THE WATER AND IMPACTED IN A SLIGHTLY NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. UPON IMPACT HE ROLLED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT AND BOTH HE AND THE TECHNICAL OBSERVER UNSTRAPPED AND SWAN TO SHORE.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16592
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 1269.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6912   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
7001   0    0 WE4HAA 142 TC DS        VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002  65   65 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003 173  238 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004 156  394 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7005 208  602 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7006 219  821 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

Send comments and questions to the VHPA at ( [email protected] )

Printed from databases on: 06/10/2000

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