Helicopter OH-6A 67-16641


Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-6A tail number 67-16641
The Army purchased this helicopter 0269
Total flight hours at this point: 00000279
Date: 06/29/1969
Incident number: 690629151ACD Accident case number: 690629151 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/1/9 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Quan Loi in
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 205569
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
P WO1 MEFFORD HARRELL SAMUEL KIA
CE E4 HD VOLLINK
G E4 GA BEST


Accident Summary:

 AIRCRAFT 641 WAS READIED AND ARMED FOR A SCOUT MISSION AT APPROXIMATELY 0700 HOURS, BY THE CREW CHIEF AND GUNNER. THE PILOT ATTENDED A MISSION BRIEFING AND PERFORMED A FLIGHT READINESS INSPECTION. ONCE THIS WAS COMPLETED, THE AIRCRAFT WAS STARTED AND CLEARED FOR TAKE-OFF BY APACHE TOWER. AT TAKE-OFF, THE AIRCRAFT CARRIED A CREW OF PILOT, CREW CHIEF, DOOR GUNNER, AND OBSERVER/DOOR GUNNER. THE ARMAMENT CONSISTED OF THREE PERSONAL SIDE ARMS, ONE M-60 MACHINE GUN WITH 1200 ROUNDS, ONE M-79 WITH 15 ROUNDS, ONE M-16WITH ONE 20 ROUND MAGAZINE, 10 SMOKE GRENADES, SIX WP GRENADES, AND APPROXIMATELY 120 POUNDS OF FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED APACHE PAD AT APPROXIMATELY 0754 HOURS WITH CLEARANCE TO ENTER TAY NINH WEST TRAFFIC ON A RIGHT BASE, LANDING RUNWAY 20 FOR POL. WITHIN ONE TO TWO MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT CALLED APACHE TOWER AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. A LOUD NOSE WAS HEARD IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA DURING THE APPROACH. DURING FINAL THE PILOT ENTERED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL APPROACH. PRIOR TO TERMINATION THE PILOT INSTRUCTED THE CREW TO HANG ON TIGHT. AT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 FEET AND 10 TO 15 KNOTS AIRSPEED, THE AIRCRAFT SPUN TO THE LEFT 360 DEG AND IMPACTED ON THE RIGHT SKID IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. ABOUT THE TIME OF INITIAL IMPACT, THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES STRUCK THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO TURN TO THE LEFT FOR 180 DEG COMING TO REST 9 FEET FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT. A 1/8 TO 4/4 INCH IMPRESSION WAS FOUND INDICATING THE AIRCRAFT STAYED WITHIN GROUND CONTACT, AFTER INITAIL CONTACT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO FULL STOP RESTING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BELLY AND TAIL STINGER WITH APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET OF MAIN ROTOR CLEARANCE ABOVE THE GROUND. AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A FULL STOP, THE OBSERVER, LOCATED IN THE LEFT FRONT SEAT, EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT. THE CREW CHIEF, LOCATED ON THE RIGHT REAR SEAT, EXITED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT ALSO. THE PILOT TURNED OFF THE BATTERY AND CLOSED THE THROTTLE TO THE FULL OFF POSITION. ONCE THIS WAS DONE, HE EXITED TO THE RIGHT IN GREAT HASTE AND WAS STRUCK BY THE MAIN ROTOR BLADE AND THROWN APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET. THE CREW CHIEF AND OBSERVER WERE NOT INJURED. THE PILOT DIED OF INJURIES RECEIVED FROM THE BLADE STRIKE.\\

This record was last updated on 05/25/1998


This information is available on CD-ROM.

Additional information is available on KIAs at http://www.coffeltdatabase.org

Please send additions or corrections to: The VHPA Webmaster Gary Roush.

KIA statistics

Return to the KIA name list

Return to the KIA panel date index

Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023


Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association