61st Assault Helicopter Company
Lucky Star · Starblazers · Vietnam 1967–1972
Accident Summary:
THE AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS A UH-1H (67-17703), A UTILITY HELICOPTER BELONGING TO THE 61ST ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY. THE PILOT WAS CAVALLARRO, ANTHONY J., WO1, 055-40-7372; THE COPILOT WAS TAN LE VAN, 2LT, GUNNER WAS CONNORS, LAWRENCE P., SP4 289-50-3438. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 0.5 NAUTICAL MILES NORTHWEST OF LZ ENGLISH, COORDINATED AT APPROXIMATELY 08:10 HOURS, 12 DEC 70. THE PILOT PERFORMED A NORMAL PREFLIGHT PRIOR TO THE START OF HIS MISSION. AFTER A NORMAL START AND RUNUP THE PILOT CALLED FOR TAKEOFF AND WAS CLEARED FOR A SOUTH DEPARTURE FROM THE "CRAP TABLE" AT LZ ENGLISH AT APPROXIMATELY 08:05 HOURS. THE PILOT MADE A RIGHT TURNOUT TO DOWNWIND INTENDING TO LAND AT ANOTHER LANDING AREA ON THE LZ ENGLISH COMPOUND. WO1 CAVALLARRO CALLED HIS OPERATIONS AND INFORMED THEM THAT HE HAD TAKEN OFF AND THAT HE WAS PROCEEDING ON HIS MISSION. AT THAT TIME HE WAS INFORMED THAT A DER CHECK WAS TO BE PERFORMED. WO1 CAVALLARRO STARTED A CLIMB TO 1000 FEET FOR THE DER CHECK, PULLING IN APPROXIMATELY 35 PSI OF TORQUE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AGL AND 60 KNOTS WHEN GRINDING NOISES STARTED IN THE VICINITY OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE CHIP DETECTOR LIGHT AND ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE MASTER CAUTION PANEL. THE ENGINE AND ROTOR TACHOMETER NEEDLES SPLIT AND THE N1 PERCENT WAS OBSERVED PASSING THROUGH 50%. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE EGT WAS APPROXIMATELY 530 DEGREES TO 540 DEGREES C AT THAT TIME. THE PILOT INITIATED AND GAVE A "MAYDAY" CALL. UPON OBSERVATION OF HIS LANDING ZONE AND ON SHORT FINAL: APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 FEET AGL; THE PILOT OBSERVED CONCERTINA WIRE ACROSS HIS LANDING AREA. THE PILOT PULLED PITCH TO EXTEND HIS GLIDE OVER THE AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FELT A DEFINATE DROP IN ROTOR RPM AT THAT TIME. THE AIRCRAFT YAWED TO THE LEFT AND IMPACTED WITH LEVELED SKIDS IN A LEFT YAWED CONDITION. THE CONDITION. THE AREA WAS A SMALL FIELD OF SOFT EARTH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT STRIKING ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND BREAKING OFF APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF IT. THE REMAINING MAIN ROTOR BLADE ROTATED AROUND AND STOPPED WITH THE AIRCRAFT SUPPORTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE BY THAT BLADE. THE CREW STATED THAT THEY HEARD POSSIBLE GUNFIRE PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE AND ALSO AFTER THEY HAD EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE CREW WAS PICKED UP BY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT LESS THAN 5 MINUTES LATER AND TAKEN TO THE DISPENSARY AT LZ ENGLISH. THE PILOT, COPILOT, GUNNER WERE RELEASED AT THAT TIME. THE PILOT RECEIVED MINOR CUTS ON HIS LEG AND ARMS. THE CREWCHIEF WAS MEDEVACED TO QUI NHON TO THE 67TH EVACUATION HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER OBSERVATION FOR A POSSIBLE BACK INJURY. THE CREWCHIEF WAS RELEASED THE NEXT DAY WITH A MINOR BACK SPRAIN AND RETURNED TO HIS COMPANY.\\
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
67-17703
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 0868.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6808 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6809 111 111 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 80 191 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 129 320 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 106 426 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6901 106 532 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 85 617 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6903 51 668 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6904 88 756 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6905 101 857 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6906 100 957 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6907 120 1077 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 117 1194 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 118 1312 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6910 125 1437 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6911 93 1530 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6912 59 1589 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7001 66 1655 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7002 117 1772 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7003 126 1898 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7004 29 1927 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7005 108 2035 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7006 90 2125 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7007 78 2203 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7008 101 2304 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7009 127 2431 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7010 98 2529 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7011 112 2641 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7012 63 2704 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7101 0 2704 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7102 0 2704 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7103 0 2704 W0MCAA DIR DIST TRANS IN STORAGE RED RIVER AD AVSCOM 7104 0 2704 W0MCAA DIR DIST TRANS IN STORAGE RED RIVER AD AVSCOM 7105 0 2704 W0MCAA RED RIVER AD 4TH ARMY RED RIVER AD AMC 7106 0 2704 W0MCAA RED RIVER AD 4TH ARMY RED RIVER AD AMC 7107 0 2704 W0MCAA DIR DIST TRANS IN MAINT RED RIVER AD AVSCOM 7108 0 2704 W0MCAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7109 0 2704 W0MCAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7110 0 2704 W0MCAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7111 0 2704 W0MCAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7112 0 2704 W0MCAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7201 0 2704 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7202 61 2765 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7203 73 2838 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7204 85 2923 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7205 1 2924 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7206 1 2925 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7207 82 3007 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7208 80 3087 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7209 78 3165 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7210 85 3250 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7211 82 3332 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7212 80 3412 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7301 45 3457 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7302 82 3539 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7303 54 3593 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7304 91 3684 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7305 90 3774 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7306 102 3876 W1DZAA USAAVNS AVN SCHOOL FORT RUCKER CONARCAS 7307 86 3962 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7308 82 4044 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7309 46 4090 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7310 49 4139 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7311 89 4228 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7312 68 4296 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7401 55 4351 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7402 73 4424 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7403 75 4499 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7404 80 4579 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7405 65 4644 W1DZAA USAAVNS 1ST ARMY FORT RUCKER TRADOCAS 7409 0 4685 W0Y6AA IN STORAGE IN STORAGE DAVIS MONTHAN AVSCOM 7410 0 4685 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM 7411 0 4685 W0Y6AA NASA LOAN LANGLY RSH CTR AVSCOM 7412 4 4689 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7501 9 4698 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7502 24 4722 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7503 22 4744 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7504 9 4753 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7505 4 4757 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7506 2 4759 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7507 17 4776 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7509 25 4814 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7510 27 4841 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7511 13 4854 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE 7512 7 4861 WA4NT0 34TH SIG BN GERMANY EUROPE
Please send additions or corrections to:
VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law
Copyright © 1998, 1999 and 2000 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association