Helicopter UH-1D 64-13554

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13554
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00001872
Date: 05/07/67
Accident case number: 670507051
Unit: 155 AHC
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO THEATER
This was an Unknown mission
While Enroute this helicopter was Unknown at 1500 feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (14.5MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Equipment Section
Systems damaged were: UNK
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
The helicopter made a Forced Landing. Aircraft is later recovered by any means other than its own power.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
costing 114414
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P2, 72644, Paul Fadz ()
Summary: Felt something hit the ship, then lost power. Autorotated and tail boom was heavily damaged during the forced landing. No one was hurt.

Crew Members:
AC O2 PULLUM DM
P W1 MULDOON RE
CE E4 FADZ PR
G E3 EVANS EJ

Accident Summary:

In flight at 1,500 feet, one bolt securing the coupler clamp at the engine output shaft failed. Suspect FOD to the engine by ingesting the bolt. The pilot autorotated to a bushy area and severed 6 foot of the tail boom on landing. Analysis revealed that the threads of the nut were stripped. Suspect the nut was overtorqued during installation

War Story:
554 was the oldest ship in the company at this time. Its hydraulic system and several other components were different from the newer ships we had. I had a hard time getting parts and spent some time at Pleiku’s junk yard. We weren’t supposed to take part from the wrecks there because most of them had experience sudden stoppages, but it was either that or we couldn’t fly that ship. 554 had several leaks and we always had power problems. On this day we had been doing troop movements all day long. For some time now I had been tape recording our missions. I had a reel to reel recorder positioned in a spare flight helmet. We were flying in the north - maybe in the Dak To area. We were returning empty when we may have taken a hit. I believe I felt something hit the ship because it lurched and then lost power. We went into an autorotation and touched down in a muddy area. The tail boom hit first and was really bent. No one was hurt. I jumped out of the helicopter and made certain I had my tape recorder. We moved a short distance from the ship. We were basically in the open and I wasn’t thinking all that clearly. One of the pilots asked if I was going to get my M-60, you know, in case the bad guys started acting up. Suddenly reality hit me and I said to myself - machine gun, good idea! We weren’t on the ground more than five minutes before someone retrieved us. 554 was hooked out. I remember seeing it in the Pleiku junk yard. I still have the tape recordings! Contributed by Paul R. Fadz, Nov 1996. VHPA note: Huey 64-13554 was rebuilt because the records show it served with the 134th and was finally destroyed on 25 May 1972 while serving with the 57th AHC

This record was last updated on 11/22/96

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 64-13554
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00003288
Date: 10/13/71
Accident case number: 711013031
Unit: 134 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Tuy Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 6000
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 STAUNTON RH

Accident Summary:

DURING APPROACH TO LZ MAIN ROTOR BLADES MADE CONTACT WITH A TREE.\\

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13554
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00003635
Date: 05/25/72
Incident number: 72052525.KIA
Unit: 57 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: ZA237896
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC 1LT FARRIS GARY BRUCE KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: 1LT Gary Bruce Farris
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/25/72 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.3
Date of Birth: 01/18/49
Home City: Shawnee, OK
Service: SC branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 57 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 71-40
Service: SC branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 01W-032
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 64-13554
SSN: 446467099
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 02/17/72
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Kontum Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: ZA235893
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 11/09/97

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13554
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 0265.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6610  61 1248 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6611 101 1349 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6612  94 1443 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6701 101 1544 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6702  79 1623 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6703 138 1761 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6704  85 1846 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO       VIETNAM                     RVN
6705  26 1872 3364   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
6706   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM
6707   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM
6708   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM
6709   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM
6710   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM
6711   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM
6712   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          4TH ARMY   NAVAL AIR STA    AVCOM
6801   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6802   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6803   0 1872 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM
6804   0 1872 8005   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM
6805   0 1872 8005   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6806   0 1872 8005   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6807   0 1872 8005   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC
6808   0 1872 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6809   0 1872 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6810   0 1872 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6811   0 1872 8005   POST SUPPLY      6TH ARMY   FORT ORD         6TH ARMY
6812   0 1872 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6901   0 1872 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC
6902  11 1883 WAGYAA HQSPTCO 15MEDBN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6903  49 1932 WAGYAA HQSPTCO 15MEDBN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6904  71 2003 WAGYAA HQSPTCO 15MEDBN  VIETNAM                     RVN
6905  18 2021 WC5DAA 605 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN
6906  18 2039 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
6907 137 2176 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
6908 162 2338 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
6909 111 2449 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
6910  48 2497 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
6911   0 2497 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
6912   0 2497 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
7001   1 2498 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
7002   7 2505 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
7003   2 2507 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
7004   0 2507 WCLGAA 20 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN
7005  67 2574 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7006  46 2620 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7007 134 2754 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN
7008  63 2817 WCYNAA HHC 145 AVN BN   VIETNAM                     RVN
7009   0 2817 WHB1AA 166 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN
7010   0 2817 W1BSAA OFC NAV RESCH    LOAN       U MICHIGAN       ELECTRON
7011   0 2817 W1BSAA OFC NAV RESCH    LOAN       U MICHIGAN       ELECTRON
7012   0 2817 W1BSAA OFC NAV RESCH    LOAN       U MICHIGAN       ELECTRON
7101   0 2817 W1BSAA NAVAL AIR CTR    LOAN       PATUXENT         AVSCOM
7102   2 2819 W1BSAA NAVAL RESEARCH   LOAN       U MICHIGAN       ECOM
7103   2 2821 W1BSAA NAVAL RESEARCH   LOAN       U MICHIGAN       ECOM
7104   3 2824                         NAT GUARD                   NAT GDZI
7105  91 2915 WC07AA 134 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
7106  27 2942 WC07AA 134 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
7107  81 3023 WC07AA 134 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
7108 134 3157 WC07AA 134 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
7109  64 3221 WC07AA 79 TC CO         VIETNAM                     RVN
7110  67 3288 WC07AA 134 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
7111  33 3321 WC07AA 134 AHC          VIETNAM                     RVN
7112  31 3352 WC07AA 61 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
7201 138 3490 WAYPAA 61 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
7202  34 3524 WAYPAA 61 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
7203   4 3528 WAYPAA 604TH TRANS CO   VIETNAM                     RVN
7204  24 3552 WAYPAA 57 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN
7205  83 3635 WAYPAA 57 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

VHPA Head Quarters or Gary Roush or Mike Law

Printed from databases on: 08/27/00