Helicopter UH-1H 67-17375


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17375
The Army purchased this helicopter 0368
Total flight hours at this point: 00001708
Date: 07/22/1969
Incident number: 690722221ACD Accident case number: 690722221 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 135 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Bear Cat in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 4 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 455945
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 WO1 GENCHI BERNARDINO FRANCIS KIA
P WO1 STARR ALLEN EUGENE KIA
CE SP4 POOL LARRY GAY KIA
G SP4 WHITLATCH GAIL LEE KIA

Passengers and/or other participants:
UNK UNK, GM, G


Accident Summary:

 AIRCRAFT 67-17375 DEPARTED VINH LONG AS CHALK NO. 8 OF A FLIGHT OF 9 TO FIRE SUPPORT BASE DANGER, THE UNIT WAS SUPPORTING THE 7TH ARVN DIVISION AND WAS ENROUTE TO THE PZ. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED RUNWAY 26 AND WAS TURNING TO THE NORTH TO FORM UP. APPROXIMATELY 2 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, CHALK 8 WAS HEARD REPORTING THAT HE WAS GOING DOWN WITH SEVERE VIBRATIONS. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A DESCENDING TURN GENERALLY NORTHWARD. ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF EMERGENCY WAS APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET WITH AIRSPEED ABOUT 80 KNOTS. THE CREW MADE A POWER APPLICATION AT ABOUT 200 FEET ALTITUDE TO AID IN CLEARING SOME TREES. AT THIS TIME, THE TAIL ROTOR CEASED TO FUNCTION. THE AIRCRAFT LOWERED IT'S NOSE AS IF TO ATTEMPT TO STREAMLINE AND GAIN AIRSPEED. POWER WAS APPLIED THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED VERTICALLY WHILE SPINNING RIGHT. A LEFT ROLL ENSUED, AND THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND NEARLY INVERTED. FLAMES ERUPTED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH GROUND IMPACT AND IT IS FELT THAT THE IMPACT CAUSED INSTANT CREW FATALITIES. UPON COMPLETE EXTINGUISHING OF THE FLAMES, CREW BODIES WERE EVACUATED TO THE MORGUE AT CAN THO.\\

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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