Helicopter UH-1H 69-15279


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15279
The Army purchased this helicopter 0470
Total flight hours at this point: 00000276
Date: 09/24/1970
Incident number: 700924231ACD Accident case number: 700924231 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 15 MED 1 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Phouc Vinh in
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 289345
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC W1 TW TRIFIRO
P W1 DL ROBART
CE SP4 FORTENBERRY JAMES RICHARD KIA

Passengers and/or other participants:
MAINT SUP, MS, G


Accident Summary:

 AIRCRAFT 279 WAS BEING PARKED BETWEEN TWO (2) REVETMENTS. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS TRYING TO PARK TEE AIRCRAFT CLOSE TO THE MAINTENANCE AREA, BECAUSE HE COULDN'T DEPRESS THE RIGHT PEDAL MORE THAN HALF WAY DOWN. THE AIRCRATT WAS ON THE GROUND WITH COLLECTIVE FULL DOWN, AND FULL RPM (6600)9 THE CREW CHIEF WAS THE 1ST TO NOTICE THAT THE ROTOR BLADES ON THE AIRCRAFT IN THE NEXT REVETMENT HAD BECOME UNTIED. THE CREW CHEIF CAME OVER INTERCOM AND SAID THE BLADES WERE UNTIED. HE THEN JUMPED OUT OF HIS AIRCRAFT AND RAN TO THE REVETMENT TO TRY AND CATCH THE LOOSE BLADE. THE ROTOR WASH FROM AIRCRAFT #279 TURNED THE ROTOR BLADES FROM THE PARKED AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES. THE BLADES THEN MESHED TOGETHER, INCUREASING THE PITCH TO FULL MAXIMUM ON THE BLADE. THE AIRCRAFT LISTED APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT OFF THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE BLADE THEN STRUCK AND SEVERED THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT. THE RETREATING BLADE HIT THE CREW CHIEF AND THE GROUND. THE ADVANCING BLADE SLICED THROUGH THE REVETMENT AND HIT THE CREW CHIEF AGAIN. AFTER THE BLADE HIT THE REVETMENT HTE TRANSMISSION CAME FORWARD THROUGH THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. AT THIS TIME THE MAST SNAPPED OFF. THE BLADES TURNED 1/2 OF A REVOLUTION BEFORE IT IMPACTED THE GROUND. EVERYONE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE RIGHT SIDE, THE ENGINE COULDN'T BE SHUT DOWN FROM INSIDE THE COCKPIT. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES BEFORE IT COULD BE SHUT DOWN.\\

This record was last updated on 09/20/1998


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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023


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