Accident Summary:
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TEST THE PEDAL RIGGING AFTER THE PITCH CHANGE LINK ON THE WHITE BLADE HAD BEEN CHANGED. ^LT PERRY^ HAD SUPERVISED THE INSTALLATION OF THE NEW PITCH CHANGE LINK AND HAD SIGNED OFF THE WORK IN THE LOG BOOK. HE THEN BEGAN THE TEST FLIGHT. ^LT PERRY^ ELECTED TO FLY OVER THE ACTIVE RUNWAY AT PHU HIEP IN ORDER TO TEST THE PEDAL RIGGING. THE RUNWAY IN USE WAS 22. FOLLOWING STANDARD TEST FLIGHT PROCEDURES FOR THE ^134TH AVN CO, LT PERRY^ SET HIS AIRCRAFT UP AT 105 KNOTS 300' AT APPROXIMATELY 35 LBS OF TORQUE HEADING STRAIGHT DOWN THE RUNWAY. HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY A VIOLENT SHUDDER WAS FELT THROUGH OUT THE AIRCRAFT. IMMEDIATELY THE NOSE YAWED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE YAW WAS OF SUCH SEVERITY THAT THE CO-PILOT'S DOOR FLEW OPEN CAUSED BY THE SUDDEN CHANGE OF DIRECTION. AS ^LT PERRY^ TRIED TO CORRECT THE YAW HE NOTICED THE NOSE DIPPING SLIGHTLY & HE SUSPECTED TAIL ROTOR FAILURE. HE IMMEDIATELY STARTED A RIGHT HAND AUTOROTATIONAL TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRFIELD TO ATTEMPT A RUNNING LANDING. AT APPROXIMATELY 300' AND INTO THE RIGHT TURN, THE AIRCRAFT WENT INTO ANUNCONTROLLABLE DESCENDING SPIN. THE SPIN, HOWEVER, WAS NOT VIOLENT BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS FALLING RAPIDLY AND IT HAD APPARENTLY LOST JUST ABOUT ALL OF ITS FORWARD AIRSPEED. THE AIRCRAFT HIT A WOODEN REVETMENT IN THE MOGAS AREA OF PHU HIEP AAF. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ON ITS LEFT SIDE AND CAME TO REST ON TOP OF THE REVETMENT EXACTLY WHERE IT STRUCK THE GROUND. WHEN EVERYTHING STOPPED MOVING, THE 3 CREW MEMBERS SCRAMBLED FROM THE WRECKAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO FIRE.\\ OF THE WRECKAGE. THIS BLADE WAS THROWN DURING FLIGHT. THE OTHER BLADE, ALSO THROWN, WAS NEVER FOUND. (SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS).\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16447
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 1169.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6911 0 0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6912 96 96 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7001 99 195 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7002 134 329 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7003 116 445 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7004 136 581 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7005 142 723 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7006 118 841 WC07AA 134 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 7007 0 841 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 7008 0 841 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Printed from databases on: 05/20/2000
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