61st Assault Helicopter Company
Lucky Star · Starblazers · Vietnam 1967–1972
WHILE HOVERING FOR TAKE OFF, THE MAIN ROTOR OF AIRCRAFT 68-16450 STRUCK THE TAIL ROTOR OF A PARKED AIRCRAFT, 68-16364.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16450
The Army
purchased this helicopter 1169
Total flight hours at this point:
00000370
Date: 05/20/70
Accident case number: 700520191
Unit: F/8
CAV
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in
Number killed in
accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 18651
Source(s)
from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center
database.
Crew Members:
AC O3 GALLATIN LE
P W1 PETRUCCI JA
CE
E5 BENNETT RW
G E4 HOLDEN RP
Passengers:
, GM, G;
Accident Summary:
AT APPROXIMATELY 0500 HOURS, 20 MAY 70, A UH-1H AIRCRAFT, SN 68-16450, BELONGING TO F TRP, 8TH CAV, HAD BEEN PREFLIGHTED AND DEPARTED ON A FIRST LIGHT VISUAL RECONNAISSANCE. THE MISSION WAS FLOWN WITHOUT PROBLEMS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 0630 HOURS WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION. WHEN THIS OCCURED, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER DECIDED TO ABORT THE MISSION AND RETURN TO CHU-LAI, RVN. AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING FROM THE MISSION, THE VIBRATION INCREASED SO THAT RATHER THAN GO TO HIS OWN MAINTENANCE FACILITY, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ELECTED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT CHU-LAI EAST. AFTER LANDING AT CHU-LAI EAST THE CREW BEGAN TO CHECK THE AIRCRAFT FOR CAUSES FOR THE VIBRATION AND DAMAGES. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE EXHAUST PIPE WAS LOOSE FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE PIPE WAS SECURED TO THE AIRCRAFT ONLY BY THE QUICK DISCONNECT LINE FROM INSIDE THE COWLING. THE EXHAUST PIPE WAS POINTED DOWNWARD DEFLECTING ALL HEAT PASSING THROUGH IT ONTO THE DRIVE SHAFT COVER AND THE TAIL BOOM. THE REAR OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST COWLING AND THE TAIL BOOM FORWARD SECTIONS WERE SO HOT THAT THEY WERE AGLOW. FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE CREW REVEALED THAT ALL HANGER BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT COVERS WERE BATTERED AND TORN IN THE VICINITY OF ALL DRIVE SHAFT CLAMPS. THE NUMBER 2 HANGER BEARING WAS BROKEN AND COMPLETELY LOOSE. THE NUMBER 4 HANGER BEARING WAS LOOSE DUE TO THE BOLTS MISSING. THE BOLTS WERE IN PLACE BUT PULLED LOOSE ON THE NUMBER 3 HANGER BEARING. AFTER THEIR INITIAL INSPECTION, THE CREW NOTIFIED THEIR UNIT AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED TO THE UNIT'S AREA BY A CHINOOK THE SAME MORNING.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16450
The Army
purchased this helicopter 1169
Total flight hours at this point:
00002066
Date: 01/21/72
Accident case number: 720121071
Unit: H/16
CAV
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in
Number killed in
accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 5468
Source(s)
from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center
database.
Crew Members:
AC W1 ROMANCIK KW
P W1 LEE DR
CE E3
LUBBERS DW
Accident Summary:
MR. ROMANCIK WAS THE 2ND AIRCRAFT OF A TWO SHIP MCGUIRE RIG EXTRACTION (CONTACT). WHILE ON APPROACH TO THE PZ THE APPROACH WAS TERMINATED SLIGHT LONG OF THE PZ. DURING THE PROCESS OF BACKING TO THE PZ THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACTED A TREE LIMB. NO VIBRATION WAS FELT THEREFORE THE MCGUIRE RIG WAS COMPLETED WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16450
The Army
purchased this helicopter 1169
Total flight hours at this point:
00002066
Date: 01/31/72
Accident case number: 720131031
Unit: 61
AHC
The station for this helicopter was An Son in
Number killed in
accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 3066
Source(s)
from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center
database.
Crew Members:
AC O2 ALLRED LW
P W1 TOMLINSON JR
Passengers:
UNK, OGY, G;
Accident Summary:
WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A RESUPPLY MISSION. A ROK SOLDIER SHOT A STAR CLUSTER FLARE THROUGH THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE. PILOT IMMEDIATELY LANDED THE AIRCRAFT. INCIDENT DAMAGE TO ONE MAIN ROTOR BLADE.\\
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
68-16450
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 1169.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6911 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6912 39 39 WG20AA F TRP 8CAV AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7001 73 112 WG02AA F TRP 8CAV AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7002 71 183 WG20AA F TRP 8CAV AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7003 77 260 WG20AA F TRP 8CAV AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7004 76 336 WG20AA F TRP 8CAV AMDV VIETNAM RVN 7005 34 370 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7006 0 370 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7007 0 370 WE4HAA 142 TC DS VIETNAM RVN 7008 105 475 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7009 69 544 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7010 126 670 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7011 98 768 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7012 72 840 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7101 126 966 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7102 100 1066 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7103 101 1167 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7104 112 1279 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7105 93 1372 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7106 94 1466 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7107 92 1558 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7108 93 1651 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7109 89 1740 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7110 83 1823 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7111 47 1870 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7112 96 1966 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7201 100 2066 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7202 82 2148 WAYPAA 61 AHC VIETNAM RVN 7203 0 2148 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7204 0 2148 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7205 0 2148 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7206 0 2148 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7207 10 2158 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7208 43 2201 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7209 23 2224 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7210 34 2258 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7211 16 2274 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7212 18 2292 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7301 10 2302 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7302 10 2312 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7303 20 2332 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7304 12 2344 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7305 27 2371 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7306 69 2440 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7307 27 2467 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7308 32 2499 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7309 22 2521 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7310 24 2545 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7311 0 2545 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7312 0 2545 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7401 0 2545 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7402 0 2545 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7403 0 2545 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7404 13 2558 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7405 15 2573 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7409 5 2650 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7410 26 2676 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7411 23 2699 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7412 2 2701 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7501 0 2701 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7502 0 2701 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7503 12 2713 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7504 25 2738 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7505 11 2749 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7506 3 2752 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7507 21 2773 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7509 36 2834 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7510 10 2844 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7511 5 2849 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7512 3 2852 WP9XAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
Please send additions or corrections to:
VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law
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