The aircraft was hovering in a revetment for the purpose of turning the aircraft 180 degrees, when the tail rotor of the hovering aircraft contacted the main rotor of an aircraft parked in a revetment. The aircraft turned 180 degrees and a hovering autorotation was executed. A ground guide was being utilized, however, blowing dust blinded the guide and he gave a signal to stop the aircraft movement. This occurred at the same time as the rotor strike. The revetment floor was unsuitable for use of ground handling wheels to effect movement of the aircraft
This record was last updated on 04/13/97
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15044
The Army
purchased this helicopter 0367
Total flight hours at this point:
00001229
Date: 08/15/68
Accident case number: 680815061
Unit: 175
AHC
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers =
0
costing 19914
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC O3 GOLDMARK CS
Accident Summary:
The aircraft was in flight when an engine chip detector light came on. The aircraft commander went into a power on autorotation. At 75 feet the engine failed. The aircraft commander continued the autorotation to touch down in a rice paddy. The main rotor blades flexed down striking the tail rotor drive shaft at the 42 degree gear box
This record was last updated on 04/17/97
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-15044
The Army
purchased this helicopter 0367
Total flight hours at this point:
00001229
Date: 09/12/68
Accident case number: 680912151
Unit: 175
AHC
South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 2 . .
Passengers = 0
costing 169565
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 W1
MONGOGNA JB
P W1 SMITH BE
Accident Summary:
Maverick lead and his wingman Maverick "31" had refueled at Can Tho and proceeded to the operational area, which was just northwest of Phung Hiep. They had reconnoitered the area early that morning and had also escorted lift ships into the same area that the accident took place. At 1125 at 300 feet and 90 knots, after approximately an hour and 20 minutes in the air, the crew noticed smoke coming into the rear section of the aircraft. The crew chief immediately alerted Mr. Mongogna of the situation, and started looking for its source. The aircraft commander, turning from his present heading of 050 degrees, into the wind, which was coming from a heading of 290 degrees, checked all instruments and found them to be in normal operating range. He initiated a power on autorotation while still monitoring the instruments for possible indications of trouble, all instruments were in the "green". While looking for a place to land, the pilot, Mr. Smith, noticed he had a master caution and chip detector light come on, at which time he informed the aircraft commander. The aircraft commander immediately radioed "Maverick Lead" and told him, that he was going to put the aircraft in the nearest open paddy. At 100 feet MSL, the aircraft commander started into his flare, the aircraft had little response. At the time of his first flare he noticed a slight drop in rotor RPM. He initiated more of a flare, by pulling the cyclic all the way back, trying to dissipate the rest of his airspeed. The aircraft again had little response, but, Mr. Mongogna in initiating the hard flare, was able to get the aircraft in a slight nose high attitude for landing. At approximately 50 feet, the aircraft commander tried cushioning the aircraft for landing, by pulling up on the collective. The cushioning failed the aircraft fell through, hit hard, bounced off the ground into the air, hit again, came to rest and slowly rolled over on its right side
This record was last updated on 04/29/97
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1C tail number
66-15044
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 0367.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6703 0 0 W0Y6AA TRAN MDMHELCO S ALASKA ALASKA 6704 74 74 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6705 85 159 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6706 80 239 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6707 78 317 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6708 75 392 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6709 96 488 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6710 85 573 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6711 0 573 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6712 41 614 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6801 32 646 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6802 116 762 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6803 72 834 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6804 93 927 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6805 74 1001 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 92 1093 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 90 1183 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 46 1229 WC43AA 175 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law
Copyright © 1998, 1999 and 2000 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association