IN REVETMENT HOVERING FOR T/O T/B SWUNG RT & STRUCK BEAM 90 DEG GEAR BOX SEPARATED ICDT DAM \
War Story:
WO! D.S. Vergamini was the pilot on the controls when this happened.
from Wallace Voss Feb. 199
Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15187
The Army purchased this helicopter 0769
Total flight hours at this point: 00000262
Date: 12/28/69
Accident case number: 691228101 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/2/20 ARA 1 CAV
The station for this helicopter was Phouc Vinh in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 451141
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 O3 HUSS JC
P W1 PARKS DA
Accident Summary:
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED PHUOC VINH AT 0325 HOURS ON A LOCAL AREA MORTAR AND ROCKET PATROL MISSION. AFTER 1 HOUR 35 MINUTES FLIGHT THE CREW LANDED AT PHUOC VINH POL AND REFUELED HOT. THEY AGAIN DEPARTED ON THE SAME MISSION. APPROXIMATELY 35 MINUTES LATER CPT HUSS DECIDED TO LAND AND CHECK THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL. HIS DECISION WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT HE HAD THE CREW CHIEF ADD 2/3 QUART OF OIL PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AND THAT MR. PARKS MENTIONED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD A HISTORY OF OIL BY-PASS LIGHTS. WHILE THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESCENDING ON AN EXTENDED BASE LEG FOR LANDING, THE ENGINE OIL BY-PASS LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER STATED THAT WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON HE CLOSELY MONITORED ALL INSTRUMENTS AND NOTED THAT ALL WERE READING NORMAL. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER INITIATED AN AUTOROTATION HE VISUALLY CHECKED HIS GAS PRODUCER AND FOUND IT TO BE READING ZERO. DUE TO THE DARKNESS THE CREW MEMBERS WERE ONLY ABLE TO DISTINGUISH A ROAD THAT RAN PARALLEL TO RUBBER TREES. THEY MADE THEIR APPROACH TO THIS ROAD AND DISCOVERED TOO LATE THAT IT WAS AN UNSUITABLE AREA TO LAND. THE ROTOR BLADES AND TAIL BOOM STRUCK THE TREES SEVERING 1/3 OF THE TAIL BOOM. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND TEARING OFF THE SKIDS, TURRET, AND CAUSING MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.\\
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 68-15187
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 0769.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6907 1 1 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD AVCOM 6908 0 1 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD AVCOM 6909 0 1 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD AVCOM 6910 28 29 WAG3B0 BBTRY2BN20A1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6911 112 141 WAG3B0 BBTRY2BN20A1CAV VIETNAM RVN 6912 121 262 WCLMAA 56 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN
Please send additions or corrections to:
Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870
Printed from databases on: 02/21/99
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