Helicopter UH-1H 67-17380
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17380The Army purchased this helicopter 0368
Total flight hours at this point: 00001377
Date: 06/15/1969
Accident case number: 690615091 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 = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 244365
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 DORER JR
P O2 RATLIFF RL
CE E4 HUNNICUTT
G E4 LOPEZ
Accident Summary:
AN O-1A, 51-12621 PILOTED BY LT THANH DEPARTED BINH THUY AB AT 0725, 15 JUNE 1969. LT TRUNG, AN OBSERVER WAS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THEY WERE TO LAND AT TRA VINH AIRFIELD FOR A BRIEFING IN PREPARATION FOR AN AIRSTRIKE AT 1700 HOURS. THERE IS NO TOWER OR RADIO AT TRA VINH AIRFIELD. AT 0755 HOURS,, LT THANH FLEW OVER THE AIRFIELD AT 700 FEET TO CHECK THE LANDING DIRECTION AND CONDITIONS, AND TO ALERT THE AIRFIELD OF HIS INTENTION TO LAND. HE NOTED ABOUT 10 UH-1 HELICOPTERS WITH ENGINES RUNNING, SITTING ON THE SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY AND MANY TROOPS NEAR THE HELICOPTERS. THESE AIRCRAFT BELONGED TO THE 335TH ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY, STATIONED AT BEARCAT, RVN. LT THANH LANDED ON RUNWAY 23 (3700 FT X 100 FT) AT 0800 HOURS. JUST AFTER TOUCHING DOWN (AFTER ABOUT A 30 FOOT LANDING ROLL) TWO VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS RAN ONTO THE RUNWAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM. HE INITIATED A TURN TO THE LEFT TO PASS BEHIND THE SOLDIERS, BUT IMMEDIATELY REALIZED THAT HE COULD NOT MISS THEM, AND THAT A FURTHER TURN COULD CAUSE HIM TO RUN OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE TROOPS AND HELICOPTERS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. HE THEN DECIDED TO GO AROUND. HE ADDED FULL POWER AND TOOK OFF AGAIN, OVER UH-1 HELICOPTER 058 ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK HELICOPTER 058 ON THE TURNING ROTOR BLADES WITH THE LANDING GEAR. THE O-1A THEN WENT INTO A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND STRUCK AIRCRAFT 380. IT WAS THROWN APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET TUMBLING TWICE AND LANDING INVERTED. LT’S THANH AND TRUNG EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE UNHURT EXCEPT FOR MINOR BRUISES. SP4 HUNNICUTT, CREW CHIEF ON 380, SUFFERED MINOR HEAR LACERATIONS. AIRCRAFT 380 HAD MAJOR DAMAGE TO ALL COMPONENTS. AIRCRAFT 058 HAD A SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF THE ROTOR SYSTEM. THE O-1A WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. THERE WERE 10 ARVN SOLDIERS ON BOARD AIRCRAFT 380; THEIR IDENTITIES AND INJURIES, IF ANY, ARE UNKNOWN.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17380
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 0368.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6803 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6804 0 0 3300 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 118 118 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 148 266 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 103 369 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 137 506 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 124 630 3264 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6810 112 742 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 97 839 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 82 921 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 95 1016 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 66 1082 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 107 1189 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 97 1286 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 91 1377 WGPQAA 335 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN
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Gary Roush
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Painted Post, NY 14870
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Printed from databases on: 06/10/2000
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