Helicopter UH-1H 67-17253

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17253
The Army purchased this helicopter 0268
Total flight hours at this point: 00000876
Date: 11/13/68
Accident case number: 681113201 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 170 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Pleiku / CP Schmidt in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
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 O2 WILTON LH
P W1 DUNLAP RL
G E4 WEEKS TG

Accident Summary:

THE ACCIDENT ACCURED AT ^1810 HRS, 13 NOVEMBER 1968,^ APPROXIMATELY TWELVE NAUTICAL MILES EAST OF ^KONTUM^ AT A FIREBASE ^(COORD: BR 017841)^. PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN OF THE WRECKAGE FROM EACH POINT OF THE COMPASS AND AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS ACCOMPLISHED. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIRCRAFT HAD THE MISSION OF AIRLIFTING SOME ^ARVNRANGERS^ TO THE FIREBASE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AT THE FIREBASE, APPROXIMATELY FIFTY METERS TO THE NORTH OF THE MARKED TOUCHDOWN POINT. THIS WAS DONE TO ALLOW ANOTHER HELICOPTER ON ONE MILE FINAL SUFFICIENT ROOM TO LAND. THE AREA AROUND THE MARKED TOUCHDOWN POINT WAS CLEAR OF STUMPS AND OBSTACLES. THE AREA WHERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURED HAD TREE STUMPS AND OTHER OBSTACLES IN IT, RANGING IN HEIGHT FROM ONE TO THREE FEET. THERE WAS, HOWEVER, SUFFICIENT ROOM BETWEEN THESE OBSTACLES TO ALLOW A ^UH-1H^ HELICOPTER TO LAND OR TAKEOFF. AFTER DROPPING OFF HIS PASSENGERS, THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER STARTED HIS TAKEOFF, STRUCK A STUMP, ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE TOSS OF THE SKIDS ON THIS AIRCRAFT WERE PAINTED RED. A TREE STUMP TWELVE INCHES IN HEIGHT, CONTAINING RED PAINT SCRAPEINGS WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY TEN FEET WEST OF THE HELICOPTERS FINAL RESTING POSITION (ACFT FACING NORTH). THIS WOULD PLACE THE SAID STUMP A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER, IN ALMOST A DIRECT LINE WITH THE RIGHT SKID, WITH THE AIRCRAFT IN THE ORIGINAL POSITION PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. AN INTERVIEW THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, WITH AN ^ARVN RANGER^ WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE AIRCRAFT AND WITNESSED THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT, DISCLOSED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BLADES STARTED CHOPPING THE AIR (INCREASING PITCH) THEN THE TAIL SECTION LIFTED INTO THE AIR WHILE THE FRONT OF THE HELICOPTER APPEARED TO REMAIN ON THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT MOVED FORWARD SLIGHTLY, THEN ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND AN EXPLOSION WAS HEARD.\\

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 67-17253
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 0268.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6802   0    0 3300   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6803  99   99 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6804 125  224 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6805  91  315 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6806  88  403 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6807  89  492 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6808  87  579 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6809 112  691 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6810 112  803 WC4YAA 170 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6811  73  876 WC5CAA 572ND MI DET     VIETNAM                     RVN

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Gary Roush
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Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 02/27/99

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