Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16227
The Army purchased this helicopter 0969
Total flight hours at this point: 00002689
Date: 01/29/1972
Incident number: 720129031ACD Accident case number: 720129031 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 60 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Ninh Hoa in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 3 . . Passengers = 2
costing 309545
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 W2 DJ GREENWELL
P W1 DR GILLENWATER
CE E5 PF DEAN
G SP4 INT-HOUT KURT KIA
Passengers and/or other participants:
X1 KY SYEOP, PAX, D
HYEOM, PAX, G
Accident Summary:
ARMY AIRCRAFT ^68-16227^, UH-1H, WAS ASSIGNED A ROUTINE SUPPLY MISSION FOR REPUBLIC OF KOREA FORCES ON 29 JAN 72. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS ^CW2 DAVID GREENWELL^ AND THE CO-PILOT WAS ^WO1 DENNIS GILLENWATER^. THE CREW CONSISTED OF ^SP/4 KURT INT-HOUT,^ WHO WAS THE GUNNER, AND ^SP/5 PAUL DEAN^, WHO WAS THE CREW CHIEF. AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 HRS., 25 CASES OF C-RATIONS AND 4 KOREANS WERE LOADED ON THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN PROCEEDED TO LZ1, A KOREAN OUTPOST, WHERE THE SUPPLIES AND PASSENGERS WERE TO BE DROPPED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER WAS IN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT ON FINAL APPROACH TO THE PINNACLE. THE LANDING AREA WAS CLUTTERED WITH STUMPS AND BUNKERS AND THE PILOT INITIATED A SLOW, NORMAL APPROACH. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE APPROACH THE CO-PILOT TOLD THE PILOT THAT HE HAD A TORQUE READING OF 45 LBS. AND A RPM OF 6400. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND, BUT THE LEFT PEDDLE BECAME INCREASINGLY INEFFECTIVE AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE IN THE DIRECTION INTENDED. THE AIRCRAFT SPUN TO THE RIGHT AND DOWNWARD UNTIL IMPACTING TREES ON THE NORTH-NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE PINNACLE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 110 FT. BELOW THE PINNACLE. THE ORIGINAL HEADING OF THE APPROACH WAS SOUTHEASTERLY. ON IMPACT THE GUNNER WAS APPARENTLY THROWN FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST, THE CREW AND PASSENGERS EXITED IMMEDIATELY. THE PILOT SECURED A RADIO FROM THE GROUND UNIT AT THE LOCATION AND CALLED FOR A MED EVAC. THE CO-PILOT AND MEMBERS OF THE GROUND UNIT CARRIED THE GUNNER TO THE TOP OF THE PINNACLE. A FEW MIUNTES LATER A HELICOPTER LANDED AND EVACUATED THE CREW AND PASSENGERS TO THE ^483RD EVAC HOSPITAL^ AT CAM RANH BAY. THE GUNNER, ^SP/4 KURT INT-HOUT^, DIED ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.\\
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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