Historical Data Display for Aircraft 69-15759

Model: UH-1H
Date Purchased: Oct 1970
Service with Rattlers & Firebirds: From Jan 1971 To Jun 1971
Flight Hours: Beginning 158 / Ending 505 -> Hours Flown: 347

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

Date: 04 Aug 1971
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 579
Accident case number: 710804091
Unit: 174 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 3 . . Passengers = 1
costing 71092
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 BOSTON TW
P W1 MILLER CK
CE E4 WHIGHAM DL
G E4 HUTCHINGS JM

Passengers:
LC LOCAL, LCO, G;


Accident Summary:

On the morning of 4 August 1971, aircraft 69-15759 departed the 174th AHC in Chu Lai on a direct support mission. The aircraft was flown for four hours and thirty minutes, supplying various fire support bases. On the last sorties, the aircraft departed Quang Ngai enroute to Hill 411, the last trip of many to that location. The aircraft had a poor hover check of 35 pounds of torque, and the N1 was 97.0% at approximately 38 degrees centigrade. The aircraft made a takeoff and approached Hill 411. The aircraft commander started his approach and began to bleed RPM as power was increased prior to landing. He lowered collective in an attempt to regain RPM. This did not result in an increase in RPM. The aircraft was approximately ten feet above the ground and approximately twenty five to thirty feet from the pad when the aircraft commander elected to attempt a go around. The RPM was not sufficient to accommodate the increased demand for power for the go around, and the aircraft fell through, striking a bunker, sliding and rolling over while traveling down a hill. The personnel on Hill 411 called emergency Dust-Off for the crew. There was no need for a defensive perimeter, as the aircraft landed within the perimeter of Hill 411. There was no fire, however there was fuel leakage. All crew members were wearing the required protective clothing to include; leather boots, flight helmets, nomex flight suits, and gloves. All radios and secure gear were salvaged.

Aircraft Assignment History