Helicopter
UH-1D 64-13546

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 64-13546
Date: 06/07/65
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was an Unknown mission
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots
Not Reported
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 Left Side
Systems damaged were: STRUCTURE
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:
UH1P1, 01590, BELL (Bell Helicopter)

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 64-13546
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00003108
Date: 11/12/69
Accident case number: 691112291
Unit: 68 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 30201
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
P W2 WIDMER PC
CP W1 VANDEEST TS

Passengers:
O3 D DUMBGUY, FCO, G;

Accident Summary:

THE AIRCRAFT AND CREW ARE CONDUCTING A COMBAT ASSAULT
MISSION WITH 8 OTHER AIRCRAFT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT
THEY HAD FLOWN 4 SORTIES. THERE HAD BEEN NO INDICATION OF
ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS DURING THIS TIME. AFTER COMPLETION
OF THE FOURTH LIFT, THE ENTIRE FLIGHT RETURNED TO THE PZ
AT COORDINATES YT 598 208 TO PICK UP A SECOND LIFT OF TROOPS.
CW WIDMER WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS CHALK 2
IN A FLIGHT OF FOUR. THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT OF 9 AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN
BROKEN DOWN INTO 2 ELEMENTS ALPHA AND BRAVO WITH A TWO MINUTE
SEPARATION. CW WIDMER WAS IN THE BRAVO ELEMENT.
BRAVO LEAD WAS TOLD TO MAKE A 360 DEGREE TURN TO ALLOW FOR
ADDITIONAL TIME NEEDED TO LOAD THE TROOPS ON THE ALPHA ELEMENT.
AFTER THIS 360 DEGREE TURN, BRAVO LEAD STARTED A FAST,
STEEP DESCENDING RIGHT TURN TO GET INTO THE PZ. ON SHORT FINAL,
CW WIDMER WAS ABOUT ONE ROTOR DIAMETER BEHIND LEAD
IN A TRAIL FORMATION. LEAD CAME IN HIGH AND FAST.
CW WIDMER ALLOWED HIS AIRCRAFT TO BECOME LOWER THAN LEAD.
AS A RESULT, WHEN LEAD FLARED EXCESSIVELY TO PREVENT HIS
RUNNING INTO THE TREE LINE AT HIS FRONT, CW WIDMER WAS FORCED
TO ALSO PUT IN A EXCESSIVE FLARE. HIS CLOSENESS TO THE GROUND
ALLOWED HIS TAIL ROTOR TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WATER
IN THE PZ BELOW HIM. THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES AND 90 DEGREE GEAR
TORE OFF IMMEDIATELY IN ONE PIECE. CW WIDMER REALIZED IMMEDIATELY
WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND CHOPPED THE THROTTLE AND CORRECTED
WITH CYCLIC TO LEVEL THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT PERFORMED A HOVERING
AUTOROTATION, LANDING QUITE HARD BUT WITH VERY LITTLE TURN TO
EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED FIRST ON THE RIGHT SKID
AND THEN THE LEFT, CAUSING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE
RIGHT LONGERON.//

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 64-13546
The Army purchased this helicopter 0265
Total flight hours at this point: 00004020
Date: 01/25/72
Accident case number: 720125081 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 57 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Camp Holloway in South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: AR907808
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 244345
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:
P O2 REYNARD MA
CP W1 MANDELL SC
CE E4 SMITH TE
G E4 WOJCIECHOWSKI JP

Accident Summary:

ON 25 JANUARY 1972, AT APPROXIMATELY 1630 AIRCRAFT ^64-13546^,
AND THREE OTHER UH-1H HELICOPTERS DEPARTED FOB 11 PAD
TO EXTRACT A 52 MAN TEAM FROM A PZ SOUTHEAST OF KONTUM.
EACH AIRCRAFT WAS TO FLY TWO SORTIES. THEY WERE DIVIDED UP INTO
TWO FLIGHTS OF TWO EACH. THE PZ WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMODATE
THREE OR FOUR SHIPS IF THE NEED AROSE. THE TREES SURROUNDING
THE PZ WERE FROM 25 TO 30 FEET TALL, WITH THE LONG AXIS RUNNING
FROM NORTH TO SOUTH.

ALL APPROACHES AND DEPARTURES WERE MADE
NORTH TO SOUTH WHILE SURFACE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VISIBLE AT
FIVE KNOTS FROM THE EAST. TERRAIN AT THE CRASH SITE WAS LOW
GRASS WITH A FEW DEAD TREES LAYING ON THE NORTHERN EDGE,
PERMITTING THE AIRCRAFT TO LAND WHILE LOADING TROOPS ABOARD.
ON THE FIRST EXTRACTION THE PILOT HAD BEEPED THE ENGINE RPM
FROM 6,600 TO 6,400 DURING THE DESCENT TO PRECLUDE ANY ROTOR
OVER SPEED. SIX (6) PAX WERE LOADED AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT
TO A HOVER STABILIZED AT 6,400 RPM. THE PILOT THEN DEPARTED THE PZ
ENROUTE TO THE FOB PAD FOR PASSENGER DROP OFF.

ON THE SECOND SORTIE THE SAME PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED
FOR ENTERING THE PZ. THIS TIME EIGHT (8) PAX WERE LOADED ABOARD.
THE AIRCRAFT HAD LANDED ABOUT 25 METERS SHORT OF THE TREES
ON THE DEPARTURE END. THE PILOT THEN BEEPED THE ENGINE RPM
BACK OP TO 6,600 RPM AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS BROUGHT TO ABOUT
A FOUR FOOT HOVER WHERE THE RPM STABILIZED AT BETWEEN
6,450 RPM AND 6,500 RPM WITH 40 LBS. OF TORQUE.

FUEL ON BOARD AT THE TIME WAS ABOUT 650 LBS. THE PILOT THEN
PULLED IN 45 LBS OF TORQUE AND STARTED HIS ASCENT.
THE ENGINE RPM HAD THEN STABILIZED AT 6,400 RPM.
AT APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 FEET WITH APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 KNOTS
OF FORWARD AIRSPEED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO
BLEED OFF AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO BACK THE AIRCRAFT
BACK INTO THE PZ. ENGINE RPM HAD DROPPED TO APPROXIMATELY
5900 RPM AND A DECREASE IN COLLECTIVE PITCH DID NOT BRING
THE RPM BACK TO OPERATING LIMITS. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SPIN
TO THE RIGHT AS FULL LEFT PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE PILOT NOR
COPILOT DIDN'T NOTICE ANY CHANGE IN ENGINE SOUND DURING
THIS EMERGENCY.

THE PILOT NOTICED A STUMP THAT WOULD HAVE
GONE THROUGH THE CHIN BUBBLE AND AFT CYCLE WAS APPLIED
TO AVOID IT. WITH THE AIRCRAFT STILL IN THE RIGHT HAND SPIN THE
TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE TREES AT THE EDGE OF THE PZ WHICH CAUSED
THE HELICOPTER TO SWING 180 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT VERY RAPIDLY
AND THEN THE ROTOR BLADES AND FUSELAGE IMPACTED THE GROUND
ON THE RIGHT SIDE IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE WHERE IT CAME TO REST.
THE PILOT AND CO-PILOT EXITED THROUGH THE FORWARD WINDSHIELD
THAT HAD BEEN BROKEN OUT BY THE TEAM LEADER FOR THEIR EXIT.
THEY THEN HELPED THE REMAINING TWO CREW MEMBERS AND
PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT.\\

HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT DUE TO A GROUND FIRE WHICH WAS
STARTED BY SMOKE GRENADES USED DURING THE TROOP EXTRACTION,
AN ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WAS TRIED BY THE
ARVN FORCE IN THE PZ, BUT THE FIRE WAS NOT PUT COMPLETELY
UNDER CONTROL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOTALLY BURNED EXCEPT
FOR THE LAST THREE-FOURTHS OF THE TAIL BOOM.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1D
tail number 64-13546
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  56 1193 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO      VIETNAM                 RVN
6611  54 1247 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO      VIETNAM                 RVN
6612  44 1291 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO      VIETNAM                 RVN
6701  74 1365 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO      VIETNAM                 RVN
6702   0 1365 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO      VIETNAM                 RVN
6703   0 1365 3364   POST SUPPLY     6TH ARMY   FORT ORD     6TH ARMY
6704  86 1451 3364   ARMY AVN DIV    6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG    TEVALCOM
6705   2 1453 3364   ARMY AVN DIV    6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG    TEVALCOM
6706  43 1496 3364   USARV FLT DET   VIETNAM                 RVN
6707   0 1496 3364   USARV FLT DET   VIETNAM                 RVN
6708  13 1509 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM                 RVN
6709 144 1653 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM                 RVN
6710 162 1815 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM                  RVN
6711  85 1900 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM                  RVN
6712  79 1979 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM                  RVN
6801 118 2097 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM                 RVN
6802   0 2097 WDUTAA 187 ASLT HEL CO VIETNAM                  RVN
 6803   0 2097 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS             AVCOMITR
 6804   0 2097 8005   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT  FT WORTH     AVCOM
 6805   0 2097 8005   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY  FORT SILL    4TH ARMY
 6806   0 2097 8005   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY  FORT SILL    4TH ARMY
6807   0 2097 8005   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY  FORT BELVOIR  AMC
 6808   0 2097 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND               PACIFIC
 6809   0 2097 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND               PACIFIC
 6810   0 2097 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND               PACIFIC
 6811   0 2097 8005   POST SUPPLY      6TH ARMY  FORT ORD     6TH ARMY
 6812   0 2097 8005   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND               PACIFIC
6901  63 2160 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                RVN
6902 120 2280 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                RVN
6903 122 2402 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                RVN
6904 117 2519 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                 RVN
6905 115 2634 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                 RVN
6906  45 2679 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                 RVN
6907  57 2736 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                 RVN
6908 155 2891 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                 RVN
6909 116 3007 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                 RVN
6910 101 3108 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                 RVN
 6911   0 3108 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS     ITR CONUS               AVCOMITR
 6912   0 3108 W0MUAA ARADMAC         IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
 7001   0 3108 W0MUAA ARADMAC         IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
 7002   0 3108 W0MUAA ARADMAC         IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
 7003   0 3108 W0MUAA ARADMAC         IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
 7004   0 3108 W0MUAA ARADMAC         IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
 7005   0 3108 W0MUAA ARADMAC         IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
 7006   0 3108 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR      BAILMENT   FT WORTH      AVCOM
 7007   0 3108 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR      BAILMENT   FT WORTH      AVCOM
 7008   0 3108 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR      BAILMENT   FT WORTH      AVCOM
 7009   0 3108 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR      BAILMENT   FT WORTH      AVCOM
 7010   0 3108 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR      BAILMENT   FT WORTH      AVCOM
 7011   5 3113 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR      BAILMENT   FT WORTH      AVCOM
 7012  31 3144 WAGGAA HHC2BDE 1CAVDIV  VIETNAM                 RVN
7101  75 3219 WAGGAA 2 BDE AM HHC    VIETNAM                 RVN
7102  80 3299 WAGGAA 2 BDE AM HHC    VIETNAM                 RVN
7103  73 3372 WAAVB0 B 227TH BN      VIETNAM                 RVN
7104  61 3433 WAAVB0 B 227TH BN      VIETNAM                 RVN
7105  92 3525 WAAVB0 B 227TH BN      VIETNAM                 RVN
7106  52 3577 WAAVB0 B 227TH BN      VIETNAM                 RVN
7107  62 3639 WAAVB0 B 227TH BN      VIETNAM                 RVN
7108  62 3701 WAAVB0 B 227TH BN      VIETNAM                 RVN
7109  80 3781 WAAVB0 B 227TH BN      VIETNAM                 RVN
7110  63 3844 WAAVB0 59 ASHC         VIETNAM                 RVN
7111  27 3871 WAAVB0 57 AHC          VIETNAM                 RVN
7112  52 3923 WAAVB0 57 AHC          VIETNAM                 RVN
7201  97 4020 WAX5AA 57 AHC       VIETNAM