Description of mishap: On 20 August 1968, aircraft 66-16619, a UH-1H, was one of four (4) aircraft providing support on a troop extraction, inserting mission west of Ban Me Thuot, RVN. The operation began at 1445 hours near Duc Lap, RVN, with approximately 1200 lbs of fuel indicated aboard each aircraft. LT Haas, the aircraft commaner of aircraft 66-16619, was the flight leader. After a total of three (3) successful insertions - extractions of troops into two (2) separate LZ's, LT Haas called for a fuel check of all aircraft. Based on the reported fuel of two (2) of the aircraft, LT Haas sent them directly back to Ban Me Thout for fuel and elected to continue the mission with the remaining two (2) aircraft. LT Haas decided to complete one more insertion - extraction at the LZ and to proceed to Ban Me Thout for fuel before dropping the final load of troops at Duc Lap. Approximately five (5) minutes out of the LZ, the twenty (20) minute warning light illuminated on aircraft 619. The second aircraft's twenty (20) minute warning light also came on a few minutes later. The flight was continued to the LZ where a successful insertion - extraction of troops was made. The two aircraft then proceeded toward Ban Me Thout for fuel. Approximately two (2) miles southwest of Ban Me Thout and approximately fifteen (15) minutes into the twenty (20) minute fuel warning light, the left fuel boost pump light illuminated and the fuel pressure dropped to approximately ten (10) psi and began to fluctuate. LT Haas decided to make a a precautionary landing into a field to his left and alerted the other aircraft of his intentions. During the left turn the fuel pressure dropped to zero and the engine quit. LT Haas entered autorotation and proceeded to his initially selected open area. LT Haas made the open area with no difficulty. However, during touch down, the left skid hit a mound of earth concealed by the grass. The aircraft pitched forward in a nose low attitude and to the right. The main rotor blade made contact with the ground and the aircraft rolled over to the right. The aircraft commander and the pilot insured all switches were off and exited the aircraft without difficulty. The rest of the crew and all passengers exited the aircraft immediately. There was no post fire
This record was last updated on 04/17/97
The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number
66-16619
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 0767.
Please provide any additional information on this
helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6707 26 26 1776 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN 6708 32 58 1776 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6709 2 60 1776 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6710 0 60 1776 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6711 0 60 3300 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6712 72 132 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6801 96 228 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6802 62 290 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6803 0 290 WAYPAA 61 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM RVN 6804 41 331 3410 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 115 446 3410 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6806 63 509 3410 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6807 81 590 3410 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 6808 41 631 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 0 631 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVCOMITR 6810 0 631 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM 6811 0 631 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6812 0 631 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6901 0 631 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN TRANSIT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6902 0 631 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6903 0 631 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6904 0 631 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6905 0 631 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6906 1 632 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 6907 18 650 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 6908 5 655 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 6909 11 666 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 6910 27 693 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 6911 2 695 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 6912 0 695 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7001 0 695 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7002 0 695 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7003 0 695 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7004 0 695 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7005 0 695 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7006 19 714 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7007 53 767 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7008 0 767 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7009 0 767 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7010 39 806 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7011 31 837 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7012 8 845 W2TFAA AVN DET AMS ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7101 43 888 W2TFAA AVN DET TOPOCOM ETHIOPIA COFENGR 7102 41 929 W2TFAA AVN DET TOPCOM IRAN COFENGR 7103 3 932 W2TFAA AVN DET TOPCOM IRAN COFENGR 7104 2 934 W2TFAA AVN DET TOPCOM IRAN COFENGR 7105 15 949 W2TFAA AVN DET TOPCOM IRAN COFENGR 7106 0 949 W2TFAA AVN DET TOPCOM IRAN COFENGR 7107 0 949 W2TFAA STRATCOM FLD OF IRAN STRATCOM 7108 1 950 W2TFAA STRATCOM FLD OF IRAN STRATCOM 7109 0 950 W2TFAA STRATCOM FLD OF IRAN STRATCOM 7110 0 950 W2TFAA STRATCOM FLD OF IRAN STRATCOM 7111 0 950 W2TFAA STRATCOM FLD OF IRAN STRATCOM 7112 0 950 W2TFAA STRATCOM FLD OF IRAN STRATCOM 7201 0 950 W2TFAA AVN DET TOPCOM IRAN COFENGR
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