Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16231
The Army purchased this helicopter 0868
Total flight hours at this point: 00000050
Date: 10/18/1968
Incident number: 681018181ACD Accident case number: 681018181 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: A/1/9 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 98662
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:
P O2 WJ CURRAN
OB E6 DR WOOLWINE
G SGT ALVERAZ CYRIL ANTHONY KIA
Accident Summary:
At approximately 1100 hours, 18 October 1968, this aircraft departed LZ Sharon. It was the wing ship in a two ship visual reconnaissance mission. The lead ship observed a foot bridge on a recently used trail and began to make "frag runs" on the bridge. This is a procedure used by this unit to destroy small targets. The two ships set up opposite race track patterns and began to alternately drop fragmentation grenades on the bridge. The grenades were being dropped by the gunner from the right rear passenger seat. After dropping his fourth grenade, the number two aircraft was preparing for his fifth run. At this time an explosion occurred in the back seat. Immediately the passenger compartment was engulfed in flames. The force of the explosion passed under the pilot's seat, knocking his feet from the pedals, and breaking out the chin bubble. While attempting to execute an emergency landing, the pilot momentarily lost control, completed a 360 degree spin and landed upright on the skids. The pilot and observer exited the aircraft with minor injuries, the aircraft was consumed by the fire, with the gunner still in his seat.
This record was last updated on 04/14/1999
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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