Helicopter UH-1H 68-15252

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15252
The Army purchased this helicopter 1268
Total flight hours at this point: 00000890
Date: 01/20/1970
Accident case number: 700120191 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 281 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Nha Trang in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 5 . . Passengers = 1
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 W1 HINSPATER TW
CP W1 WILLIAMS P
CE E4 BENKOWSKI
G E4 STUTLER WA

Passengers:
W3 MITCHELL, PAX, D;

Accident Summary:

ON 20 JAN 70, AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 HOURS, A UH-1H, SN: 68-15252, WAS ENROUTE FROM TUY HOA, RVN, TO LANE ARMY HELIPORT, RVN ON A COMBAT SUPPORT MISSION FOR THE 6/32 ARTILLERY. THE AIRCRAFT HAD 1 PASSENGER ON BOARD WHICH WAS TO BE DROPPED OFF AT A FIRE SUPPORT BASE NORTH OF QUIN NHON, RVN. AT APPROXIMATELY 1110 HOURS THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLYING IN LIGHT RAIN WHEN IT ENTERED INADVERTANT IFR CONDITIONS IN GROUND FOG. AT THIS TIME WO1 HINSPATER WAS AT THE CONTROLS OF THE AIRCRAFT (BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT WENT IFR IT WAS AT 500 FEET AGL. DURING THE PERIOD FROM WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FIRST ENTERED THE RAIN CONDITION AND WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WENT INTO THE GROUND FOG, THE GROUND ELEVATION HAD CHANGED FROM 50 FEET ASL TO APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET ASL). WO1 HINSPATER MAINTAINED HIS HEADING AND ALTITUDE FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE, HOPING THAT HE WOULD COME OUT OF THE IFR CONDITION. FOLLOWING THIS PERIOD OF TIME HE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT JUST A TEMPORARY CONDITION AND ELECTED TO DO A 180 TURN AND FLY BACK INTO A VFR CONDITIONS. UNKNOWN TO WO1 HINSPATER AT THIS TIME WAS THAT HE WAS IN THE QUIN NHON PASS WHERE THE GROUND LEVEL IS 500 FEET, AND HIS AIRCRAFT ALTIMETER WAS INDICATING 500 FEET. AS WO1 HINSPATER STARTED TO MAKE A 180 TURN TO THE LEFT WITH AN AIRSPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 40 KNOTS, HE SAW TREES COMING UP AT THE AIRCRAFT. WO1 HINSPATER, AT THIS TIME PULLED AFT CYCLIC AND MAXIMUM POWER. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND ON THE LEFT SIDE. JUST AS THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND THE POWER APPLICATION TOOK EFFECT AND THE AIRCRAFT ROSE OFF THE GROUND AND THEN AS THE ROTOR RPM BEGAN TO BLEED OFF, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK DOWN. THE SEVERITY OF THIS IMPACT CAUSED THE CO-PILOT'S SEAT TO BE TORN FROM THE AIRCRAFT. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE FIRST TIME THE CREW CHIEF RELEASED HIS SAFETY BELT AND AS THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE SECOND TIME HE RECEIVED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING RESTRAINED.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-15252
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 1268.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

 
DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
196812   0    0 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR   
196901  91   91 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196902 113  204 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196903   0  204 3410   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
196904  48  252 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196905  32  284 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196906  73  357 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196907  99  456 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196908  44  500 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196909  89  589 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196910 102  691 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196911  96  787 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN      
196912 103  890 WFJFAA 281 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush

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Printed from databases on: 12/16/2016

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