. THE UH-1H, ^SN66-16296^ WAS THE SECOND AIRCRAFT IN AFLIGHT OF TWO ENROUTE FROM ^BEARCAT^ TO ^TRI TON^. THE FLIGHT WAS ROUTINE, FLYING AT 1000' AND ECHELON RIGHT, UNTIL CLOUDS WERE ENCOUNETERED JUST AFTER PASSING ^V. C. ISLAND^. AS THE LIGHT ON THE HORIZON BEGAN TO FADE, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ELECTED TO SLOW HIS AIRSPEED AND FOLLOW THE FIRST AIRCRAFT WHICH HAD ALREADY STARTED DESCENDING. AT 400 FEET THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER LOST SIGHT OF THE FIRST AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS FLYING APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET ABOVE HIS AIRCRAFT. AT 100 FEET OR BELOW, THE HORIZIZON CAME BACK INTO VIEW AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TURNED SOUTH ALONG ^HWY 316^, SLOWING HIS AIRSPEED TO 40 KNOTS. AT THIS TIME SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE FIRST AIRCRAFT ON FM RADIO WERE MADE WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER OBSERVED THE FIRST AIRCRAFT BREAK THROUGH THE OVERCAST AT 50 TO 100 FEET ON A HEADING OF 320 DEG. STILL NO RADIO CONTACT HAD BEEN MADE WITH THE FIRST AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS HEADING TOWARD THE HIGH TENSION WIRES WHICH ARE NORTHWEST OF ^HWY 316^. AT THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER BEGAN TO CHASE THE FIRST AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTING TO ESTABLISH RADIO CONTACT. WHEN APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE BEHIND THE FIRST AIRCRAFT, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER SAW THE FIRST AIRCRAFT STRIKE THE HIGH TENSION WIRES AND FALL STRAIGHT TOWARD THE GROUND AND BURST INTO FLAMES. AS THE FIRST AIRCRAFT CRASHED, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER THOUGHT HE HAD SEEN A CREW MEMBER THROWN FROM THE AIRCRAFT, HOWEVER, LATER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT IT WAS A PIECE OF WRECKAGE. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE WRECKAGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER STARTED ON AN APPROACH THAT WAS SLIGHTLY SHALLOW; THE CEILING AT THIS TIME WAS 100 FEET AND VISIBILITY 1/4 MILE. DURING THE APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TOP OF A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER STATED HE DID NOT SEE THE TREE UNTIL IT STRUCK THE CHIN BUBBLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER PULLED IN POWER AND PUSHED THE CYCLIC FORWARD IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE TAILROTOR OUT OF THE TREE. A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE ARICRAFT AS THE CARGO HOOK WAS DRIVEN BACK INTO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS THEN LANDED TO A 3 FOOT HOVER, FORWARD AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE TREE, 90 DEG RIGHT OF THE INTENDED FLIGHT PATH. AFTER LANDING, SEVERAL CALLS WERE MADE REPORTING THE ACCIDENT. THE CREWCHIEF DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT TO LOOK FOR SURVIVORS; MEANWHILE ANOTHER AIRCRAFT LANDED AND WHEN THE CREWCHIEF RETURNED, BOTH AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AND ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE IN THE GREEN. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ORBITED THE WRECKAGE 20 TO 25 MINUTES UNTIL THERE WAS LIGHT ENOUGH TO SEE THE AREA SURROUNDING THE CRASH SITE. HE THEN DEPARTED AND LANDED AT ^BEARCAT^, AT WHICH TIME HE PHYSICALLY INSPECTED THE DAMAGE TO HIS OWN AIRCRAFT. HE DETERMINED IT TO BE FLYABLE AND THEN RETURNED TO THE CRASH SITE WITH THE ACTING C.O. AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. HE THEN RETURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO ^BEARCAT^ AND PARKED THE AIRCRAFT IN THE REVETMENTS. AFTER THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER INVESTIGATED THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AT ^BEARCAT HELIPORT^, IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE THE RIGHT CHIN BUBBLE BROKEN AND EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AFT OF THE CARGO HOOK.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16296
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 0467.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6704 1 1 WQ1CAA GEN SUPPLY DIV 4THARMY RED RIVER AD AVCOM 6705 0 1 9221 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM 6706 0 1 9221 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN 6707 0 1 9221 USARV FLT DET VIETNAM RVN 6708 0 1 9221 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6709 0 1 9221 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6710 0 1 9221 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6711 0 1 9221 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6712 0 1 9221 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6801 0 1 9221 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6802 0 1 9221 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6803 0 1 9221 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 6804 0 1 3300 BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6805 70 71 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6806 134 205 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6807 113 318 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 101 419 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 125 544 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 133 677 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 123 800 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6812 138 938 WC08AA 135 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN 6902 0 0 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN STORAGE NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6903 0 0 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6904 0 0 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6905 4 4 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6906 2 6 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 6907 31 37 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 6908 47 84 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 6909 22 106 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 6910 30 136 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 6911 4 140 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 6912 1 141 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 7001 22 163 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 7002 20 183 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 7003 12 195 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 7004 8 203 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 7005 2 205 W14HAA AVN ELMT IAGS CANAL ZONE USARSO 7006 63 268 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7007 22 290 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7008 0 290 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7009 0 290 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7010 5 295 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7011 57 352 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7012 34 386 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7101 2 388 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7102 52 440 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7103 48 488 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7104 42 530 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7105 11 541 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7106 9 550 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7107 17 567 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7108 18 585 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7109 23 608 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7110 0 608 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7111 0 608 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7112 0 608 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7201 0 608 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7202 31 639 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7203 24 663 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7204 46 709 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7205 28 737 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7206 5 742 WHT7AA 206 AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7207 32 774 WHT7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7208 31 805 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7209 23 828 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7210 24 852 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7211 25 877 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7212 24 901 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7301 14 915 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7302 5 920 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7303 0 920 W3BGAA LOG SPT CMND CANAL ZONE USARSO 7304 0 920 W3BGAA 193RD AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7305 0 920 W3BGAA 590TH MAINT CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7306 0 920 W3BGAA 590TH MAINT CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7307 0 920 WD4QAA 590TH MAINT CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7308 11 931 WD4QAA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7309 21 952 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7310 15 967 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7311 18 985 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7312 5 990 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7401 14 1004 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7402 11 1015 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7403 22 1037 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7404 33 1070 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7405 20 1090 WD4QAA 590TH MAINT CO CANAL ZONE USARSO 7409 21 1165 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7410 28 1193 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7411 30 1223 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7412 17 1240 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7501 17 1257 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7502 26 1283 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7503 20 1303 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7504 18 1321 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7505 26 1347 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7506 20 1367 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7507 15 1382 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7509 0 1382 WAX7AA 114TH AVN CO CANAL ZONE FORT CLAYTON FORSCOM 7510 0 1382 W0MUAA DIR OF SUPPLY IN STORAGE CORPUS CH AD AVSCOM 7511 0 1382 W0MUAA DIR OF SUPPLY IN MAINT CORPUS CH AD AVSCOM 7512 3 1385 W0MUAA DIR OF SUPPLY IN STORAGE CORPUS CH AD AVSCOM
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