Helicopter UH-1D 65-09845

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 65-09845
The Army purchased this helicopter 0566
Total flight hours at this point: 00000707
Date: 01/21/1967
Accident case number: 670121021 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 114 AHC
South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 5 . . Injured = 4 . . Passengers = 8
costing 228554
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 LAFEVERS WENDELL C
P O1 JW OLNEY
CE E5 CARSEY GARY L
G E3 DE DUTRO

Passengers and/or other participants:
UNK NO NAME, UNK, A
UNK NO NAME, UNK, A
UNK NO NAME, UNK, A
UNK NO NAME, UNK, A
UNK NO NAME, UNK, A
UNK NO NAME, UNK, D
UNK NO NAME, UNK, D
UNK NO NAME, UNK, D

Accident Summary:

On take off, RPM decreased to approximately 6000. AC expected to recover RPM but he realized he was overloaded and attempted to land. The aircraft crashed into a pile of girders off the north end of the helipad.

War Story:
We were overloaded but that was not the cause of the accident. I don't believe a takeoff was ever made that wasn't "overloaded". The high speed governor failure was the ultimate cause of the accident. I believe this was supported by the engine analysis from Okinawa. Besides the crew, there was only one (1) SVA Lt on board. Wendell C. LaFevers CW4 USA Retired

I would like to make some corrections to your info on this aircraft. I was the CE of this helicopter at the time. We were carrying ammunition to an unknown location. The staging area for this was located at My Tho. After lift-off the aircraft went into a severe vibration and lost power. The pitch of the blades was changed and rpm was recovered but couldn't contain altitude. Investigation determined that Density Altitude was the factor in this accident. We over shot an attempted landing at the edge of the village near a bridge where steel girders had been placed. As a result of the blades making contact with the steel girders, 8 or 9 civilians were killed. AC Lafevers received severe injuries to his leg.

From: Gary Carsey

This record was last updated on 11/17/2012

The following is Goldbook information on helicopter UH-1D tail number 65-09845
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 0566.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

 
DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
196610 138  389 WAX7AA 114 AVN CO AML   VIETNAM                     RVN      
196611 144  533 WAX7AA 114 AVN CO AML   VIETNAM                     RVN      
196612  98  631 WAX7AA 114 AVN CO AML   VIETNAM                     RVN      
196701  76  707 WCLUAA 611 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN       
196702   0  707 WCLUAA 611 TRANS CO DS  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196703   0  707 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
196704   0  707 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
196705   0  707 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN

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