At 1200 hours 5 Jul 68, I was notified by my operations officer that an aircraft accident had occurred at the Black Horse base camp and that I was appointed as investigating officer. I went to the battalion safety office and learned the accident involved two (2) aircraft from the 135th Assault Helicopter Company. I called operations, was assigned an aircraft and arrived on the scene at 1415 hours. The area was marked off with tape and none of the debris or the aircraft had been moved. My investigation revealed that approximately 1115 hours a light fire team composed of aircraft 66-15124 and 66-15127 had taken off from black horse at 0650 hours that morning on a mission and had returned to their own ramp for refueling and rearming prior to going back on station. Aircraft 66-15124 was piloted by WO1 J. L. Drolshagen and the the aircraft commander was Australian LT Anthony A. Casadio. The aircraft 66-15127 was piloted by WO1 Jessa J. Porter and the the aircraft commander was CWO Richard T. Harrison. Upon my arrival at the scene, they were positioned as indicated in diagram (tab f). My investigation revealed the following facts; the fire team leader, LT Casadio, had called the tower, landed and hovered to a point in the lanes between the revetments and both aircraft at flight idle while the armament systems were rearmed. After rearming the fire team leader, LT Casadio called the tower and requested clearance for the team to hover at its revetments to refuel. Investigations showed this is company SOP to refuel in the revetments. I talked with the tower operator on duty at the time and he stated he cleared them to hover and then turned his attention to other traffic and did not witness subsequent events. A check with combat weather team #1, detector 32, weather squadron at Blackhorse established the weather as 6/8 cw, 1200 ft, 8/8 cirus 30,000 ft. Temp 28 degrees centigrade dewpoint 24 degrees C visibility + 6 and winds variable at 3 knots favoring the south. The investigation revealed that aircraft 66-15124 at approximately 1138 hours brought to a hover by LT Casadio while the gunner, on the right side of the aircraft was still putting his helmet on and therefore not in a position to advise the pilot. The crew chief of the left side did have his helmet on and cleared the aircraft commander to the left. As the aircraft was lifted to a hover, it drifted right and to the rear. The aircraft commander, who was piloting the aircraft stated his intentions were to hover the aircraft, turn the tail left and hover to his revetment. He states and it was verified that an aircraft was parked on a pad in front of the revetments at the time and he was concentrating on staying clear of it. As the aircraft was turned to the right, it drifted rearward and at a point about 45 degrees angle from 66-15124, the tail rotor of the hovering aircraft struck the main rotor of the aircraft at flight idle. Upon contact, the tail rotor, 90 degrees gear box and FM antenna separated from the aircraft landing as indicated in diagram. The hovering aircraft then lurched tail left, became uncontrollable and the pilot lowered the pitch. The aircraft initially made contact with the ground on the right skid, bounced to the left and landed hard on the left skid, crushing it against the aircraft belly. The aircraft came to rest on the left rocket tube and pylong assembly and the right skid. There was no fire or injuries to the crews and both aircraft were shut down without further incident
This record was last updated on 04/16/1997
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00000846
Date: 10/29/1968
Unit: HHD 44 ENG GP
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at 0800 feet and 080 knots.
Unknown
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM, 12.7MM)
Systems damaged were: FLT CONTROLS, TAIL ROTOR
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 30301, JSIDR (Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00001054
Date: 02/03/1969
Unit: B/9 AVN 9 INF
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0700 feet and 110 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Passenger Cargo Section
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 03403 ()
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00001341
Date: 06/18/1969
Unit: B/9 AVN 9 INF
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at 0500 feet and 080 knots.
Unknown
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Right Side
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 16902 ()
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15124
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter
and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 0567.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6705 16 16 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6706 29 45 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6707 23 68 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6708 25 93 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6709 0 93 WFM9AA 135 AVN CO 4THARMY FORT HOOD 4TH ARMY 6710 7 100 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6711 131 231 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6712 96 327 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6801 131 458 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6802 102 560 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6803 14 574 3380 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6804 0 574 3380 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 80 654 3380 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6806 89 743 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 13 756 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 0 756 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 10 766 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 80 846 3257 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6811 23 869 WDFWB0 COB 9AVBN 9INF VIETNAM RVN 6812 78 947 WDFWB0 COB 9AVBN 9INF VIETNAM RVN 6901 67 1014 WDFWB0 COB 9AVBN 9INF VIETNAM RVN 6902 40 1054 WDFWB0 COB 9AVBN 9INF VIETNAM RVN 6903 39 1093 WDFWB0 COB 9AVBN 9INF VIETNAM RVN 6904 57 1150 WDFWB0 COB 9AVBN 9INF VIETNAM RVN 6905 35 1185 WDFWB0 COB 9AVBN 9INF VIETNAM RVN 6906 156 1341 WDFWB0 COB 9AVBN 9INF VIETNAM RVN 6907 35 1376 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6908 0 1376 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 0 1376 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6910 0 1376 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6911 37 1413 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6912 92 1505 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7001 28 1533 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7002 73 1606 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7003 25 1631 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7004 63 1694 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7005 38 1732 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7006 13 1745 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7007 49 1794 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7008 51 1845 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7009 0 1845 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7010 0 1845 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7011 0 1845 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7012 0 1845 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 7101 0 1845 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7102 0 1845 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7103 0 1845 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7104 0 1845 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7105 0 1845 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7106 0 1845 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7107 0 1845 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7108 0 1845 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7109 0 1845 W2WJAA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM 7110 11 1856 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7111 42 1898 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7112 38 1936 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7201 7 1943 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7202 46 1989 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7203 7 1996 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7204 24 2020 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7205 39 2059 TCEAAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7206 11 2070 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7207 0 2070 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7208 8 2078 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7209 25 2103 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7210 15 2118 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7211 0 2118 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7212 0 2118 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7301 0 2118 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7302 0 2118 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7303 0 2118 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7304 7 2125 TCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7305 21 2146 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7306 22 2168 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7307 0 2168 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7308 7 2175 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7309 0 2175 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7310 10 2185 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7311 7 2192 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7312 15 2207 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7401 6 2213 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7402 4 2217 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7403 2 2219 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7404 15 2234 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7405 29 2263 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7409 4 2284 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7410 5 2289 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7411 4 2293 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7412 8 2301 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7501 12 2313 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7502 1 2314 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7503 15 2329 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7504 12 2341 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7505 6 2347 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7506 1 2348 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7507 21 2369 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7508 10 2379 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7509 10 2389 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7510 4 2393 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7511 21 2414 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI 7512 0 2414 WTCEAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
Last modified: Friday February 10th, 20223 |