Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 65-09447
Date: 11/17/1969
Incident number: 691117261ACD Accident case number: 691117261 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 116 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Cu Chi in
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 5 . . Passengers = 3
costing 289415
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
P O2 JN BAIRD
CP W1 BR HINKLE
CE E4 T SNEDDEN
G SP5 TEARL MARK FRANCIS KIA
Passengers and/or other participants:
O4 GR KUNDE, LCO, G
W2 P MASSIE, PAX, D
E4 JL YEAMAN, PAX, D
Accident Summary:
THE AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE FLIGHT TO PHU LOI ARMY AIRFIELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF PICKING UP A SECOND AIRCRAFT AND RETURNING TO CU CHI. AFTER TAKEOFF THE CREW DECIDED ON AN INTERMEDIATE STOP FOR LUNCH AT NHA BE. WHILE ENROUTE THE CREW STATES THAT THEY FLEW THROUGH A FLOCK OF LARGE WHITE BIRDS AND THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERDD BIRD STRIKES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THEIR AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE STRIKES. THE AIRCRAFT PERFORMED NORMALLY AND CONTINUED ON FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND LANDED AT NHA BE HELIPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DURING THE PERIOD THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON THE GROUND AT NHA BE, IT WAS REFUELED, SHUTDOWN, AND A PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE TRANSMISSION AND ROTOR HEAD AREA WAS MADE BY THE PILOT WHILE THE CREW CHIEF AND COPILOT MADE A WALK AROUND INSPECTION OF THE LOWER BODY. THE INSPECTION REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE 42 DEGREE GEAR BOX COVER (DENTED), BLOOD ON THE STABILIZER BAR AND MAIN ROTOR BLADE. ALL DAMAGE APPEARED MINOR TO THE CREW AND THEY DEPARTED NHA BE AT APPROXIMATELY 1300 HOURS. THE COPILOT WAS AT THE CONTROLS DURING TAKEOFF. AFTER A VERY SHORT PERIOD (ABOUT 2 MIN) THE PILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND STARTED A CYCLIC CLIMB TO GAIN ALTITUDE. DURING THE PULL BACK OF THE CYCLIC, THE PILOT STATED HE FELT A BINDING "SIMILAR TO FORCED TRIM ON." UPON FEELING THIS BINDING THE PILOT MOVED THE CYCLIC FORWARD TO GAIN AIRSPEED AS IT HAD DISSIPATED TO 50-60 KNOTS DURING THE CLIMB. AT THIS TIME, THE CREW CHIEF, STATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SOME MORE BIRD STRIKES. HE ALSO STATES THAT HE HEARD A 'THUD' IN THE AREA OF THE TRANSMISSION AIR INTAKE AND A SCRAPPING NOISE TOWARD THE TAIL. SNEDDEN WAS NOT WEARING A HELMET AT THIS TIME AS HE HAD GIVEN IT TO YEAMAN IN ORDER FOR YEAMAN TO ACT AS THE LEFT GUNNER/OBSERVER FOR THIS PORTION OF THE FLIHGT. THE PILOT STATES THAT AFTER HE MOVED THE CYCLIC FORWARD, THE AIRCRAFT LEVELED MOMENTARILY, THEN THE NOSE CONTINUED TO MOVE DOWNWARD UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A DIVE AND A TURN OF UNKNOWN MAGNITUDE TO THE RIGHT. ATTEMPTS TO PULL THE NOSE BACK UP WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS THE CYCLIC WAS NO LONGER EFFECTIVE IN THE PITCH AXIS. BOTH PILOT AND COPILOT WERE ON THE CONTROLS IN AN ATTEMPT TO LEVEL THE AIRCRAFT BUT THEIR ATTEMPTS WERE STILL INEFFECTIVE. FROM THE PILOT'S STATEMENTS, THE ALTITUDE WAS FOUR TO FIVE HUNDRED FEET WHEN THEY FIRST ENCOUNTERED THE CYCLIC BIND. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, AT ABOUT 120-130 KNOTS IAS, THE PILOT APPLIED FULL COLLECTIVE PITCH. THE AIRCRAFT LEVELED OUT SOMEWHAT IN THE PITCH ATTITUDE. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED TREES (PALM SPROUTS) ABOUT FIVE FEET FROM THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CONTACTED THE GROUND AND CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY 50 YARDS AND CAME TO REST ACROSS A SMALL STREAM. THE TRAIL THE AIRCRAFT CUT PRIOR TO COMING TO REST WAS SCATTERED WITH PLEXIGLASS, ONE PILOT DOOR, ONE SKID, AND SMALL SCRAPS OF METAL. THE TAILBOOM WITH DRIVESHAFT, COVERS, GEAR BOXES, AND TAIL ROTOR ASSEMBLY WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 FEET SHORT OF FINAL RESTING PLACE IN THE STREAM. THE FUSELAGE WITH ROTORHEAD, TRANSMISSION AND CABIN AREA CAME TO REST ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN BURNING WITHIN ONE MINUTE AFTER COMING TO REST.\\
This record was last updated on 09/20/1998
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