Helicopter
UH-1H 67-17353

Information on U.S. Army helicopter
UH-1H tail number 67-17353
The Army purchased this helicopter 0368
Total flight hours at this point: 00000552
Date: 03/18/69
Accident case number: 690318311 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/227 AVN
The station for this helicopter was Bien Hoa in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 2 . . Passengers = 7
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:
AC W1 SHAMA MJ
P W1 ESPINO PJ
CE E4 MILLINGTON SJ
G E3 BALLINGER MA

Passengers:
UNK UNK, LCO, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;
UNK UNK, PAX, G;

Accident Summary:

AIRCRAFT ^353^ WAS IN SLOT THREE IN THE SECTION RIGHT FORMATION
OF SIX AIRCRAFT. THE FLIGHT WAS LATE FOR THE PZ TIME AND WERE HOLDING
100 KNOTS UNTIL THEY WERE ONE MINUTE OUT FROM THE LZ WHEN THE
FLIGHT LEADER STARTED SLOWING BACK. THE LZ WAS VERY LARGE WITH
DIKES 18-24 INCHES HIGH CROSSING PERPENDICULAR TO THE FLIGHT PATH
OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE FORMATION CAME INTO THE LZ FROM NORTH TO SOUTH,
HOLDING A HIGH HOVER, APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET, ACROSS THE LZ TO REACH
A TOUCHDOWN POINT AT THE SOUTH END. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE
AIRCRAFT COMMANDER OF ^353^ TO CHOOSE A TOUCHDOWN POINT JUST
BEYOND ONE ROW OF DIKES AS SLOT ONE AND SLOT TWO HAD DONE.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO HOVER FORWARD TO REACH THIS TOUCHDOWN
POINT THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOO LOW CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT SKID TO
STRIKE THE TOP OF THE DIKE. THIS RESULTED IN THE THE AIRCRAFT PITCHING
FORWARD, MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONTRACTING THE GROUND THE AIRCRAFT
ROLLING OVER TO THE RIGHT AND COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN.
THE FLIGHT LEADER WAS TOLD SLOT THREE WAS DOWN AND TURNED HIS
AIRCRAFT 90 DEGREES TO OBSERVE THE ACCIDENT. AFTER DETERMINING
THAT THERE WAS NO SERIOUS INJURIES AND THAT THE PERSONNEL ABOARD
THE DOWNED AIRCRAFT HAD EXITED SAFELY, THE FLIGHT LEADER TOOK
THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT OUT OF THE LZ.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter
UH-1H tail number 67-17353
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 0368.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST    COUNTRY
6803   1    1 9221   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL   4TH ARMY
6804   1    2 3261   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH       AVCOM
6805  74   76 3261   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL   4TH ARMY
6806  45  121 3261   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL   4TH ARMY
6807  40  161 3261   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC
6808 109  270 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6809  74  344 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6810   0  344 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6811  29  373 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6812  52  425 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6901  72  497 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6902  55  552 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN