ON 1 AUG 1969, AT APPROXIMATELY 2015 HOURS, AN AH-1G AIRCRAFT SN 67-15599 WAS RETURNING TO PHAN THIET FROM A TACTICAL MISSION. THE APPROACH PATH INTO THE UNIT'S LANDING PAD IS OVER THE OCEAN, THE BEACH, AND THE CLIFF OF THE HIGH GROUND UPON WHICH PHAN THIET AIRFIELD IS LOCATED. THE VISIBILITY WAS POOR DUE TO THE DARKNESS AND A SLIGHT HAZE. THE GLIDESCOPE LIGHT, IN THE GREEN, WAS OBSERVED BY BOTH THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER STARTED THE APPROACH WITH HEADING 270 DEG AND 50 KNOTS INDICATED AIRSPEED. THE GLIDESCOPE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE APPROACH WAS STEEP. AT THIS TIME A GO-AROUND WAS SUGGESTED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER FELT THAT HE COULD GET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN ON A NORMAL APPRACH PATH AGAIN AND THE PILOT AGREED WITH THIS DECISION. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER REDUCED PITCH AND CONTINUED TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT DOWN. THE GLIDESCOPE LIGHT TURNED FROM YELLOW TO GREEN TO RED VERY RAPIDLY, AND THEN NO LIGHTS AT ALL WERE OBSERVED. THE PILOT CALLED FOR THE LANDING LIGHT AND THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TURNED IT ON. THE PILOT YELLED THAT THEY WWRE ABOUT TO HIT THE CLIFF. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THEY HAD AN APPARENT GROUND SPEED OF ABOUT 15 KOOTS AND THAT THEY WERE ABOUT 20 FEET FEOM THE CLIFF.\\ EXECUTED A FLARE AND PULLED IN ALL THE POWER HE COULD TO CUSHION THE LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT MADE 4 OR 5 360 DEG RIGHT TURNS WITH FULL LEFT PEDAL APPLIED. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER TRIED TO CUSHION THE AIRCRAFT ONTO THE SLOPED AREA IN FRONT OF THE CLIFF. THE AIRCRAFT HIT HARD ON BOTH SKIDS AND BOTH THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER AND THE PILOT APPLIED AFT CYCLIC TO PREVENT THE BLADES FROM COMING THROUGH THE CANOPY. THE AIRCRAFT BOUCNED UP AFTER INTIAL IMPACT AND WENT BACKWARDS AND TO THE LEFT APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET, WHERE IT HIT ON ITS LEFT SKID AND THEN ROLLED OVER ONTO ITS LEFT SIDE. THE RED MAIN ROTOR BLADE STRUCK THE GROUND TO THE LEFT FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND BROKE UP. THE WHITE MAIN ROTOR BLADE DUG INTO THE GROUND TO THE RIGHT REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE TORN OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND TO BE THROWN TO THE LEFT REAR APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER OPENED HIS CANOPY DOOR AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT DID NOT TRY TO OPEN HIS DOOR, BUT USED THE BREAKOUT KNIFE TO MAKE AN EXIT IN THE CANOPY. AFTER THEY WERE BOTH OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT, THEY RAN DOWN BEHIND AN EMBANKMENT. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING, THER WAS SMOKE AROUND THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD A FULL LOAD OF ROCKETS AND AMMUNITION WHICH THEY THOUGH COULD EXPLODE AT ANY TIME. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, THEY RETURNED TO THE AIRCRAFT AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER THEY WERE PICKED UP BY A JEEP. THEY WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY WERE EXAMINED AND RELASED.\\
Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15599
The Army purchased this helicopter 0568
Total flight hours at this point: 00000366
Date: 08/13/70
Unit: D/158 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at 1000 feet and 140 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 2 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Main Rotor Blade System
Systems damaged were: ARMAMENT, MAIN ROTOR SYS
The helicopter made a Forced Landing. unknown.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
CAMP EVANS recovered the helicopter.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: JSIDR, MISC (Miscellaneous. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )
The following is Goldbook
information on US Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15599
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 0568.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 6805 0 0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN IN MAINT SHARPE AD AVCOM 6806 0 0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD AVCOM 6807 1 1 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6808 0 1 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6809 0 1 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6810 0 1 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6811 0 1 WADPT0 UNIT NOT KNOWN VIETNAM RVN 6812 24 25 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN VIETNAM RVN 6901 52 77 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN VIETNAM RVN 6902 0 77 3205 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6903 0 77 3205 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6904 69 146 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN VIETNAM RVN 6905 0 146 3205 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6906 0 146 3205 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC 6907 56 202 WADPD0 D TRP 2SQ1CV4IN VIETNAM RVN 6908 0 202 WCLSAA 388 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 6909 0 202 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6910 0 202 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM 6911 0 202 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 6912 0 202 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7001 0 202 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7002 0 202 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7003 0 202 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7004 0 202 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7005 0 210 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7006 0 210 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR BAILMENT FT WORTH AVCOM 7007 7 217 WFJ4D0 COD 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 7008 149 366 WFJ4D0 COD 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 7009 105 471 WFJ4D0 COD 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 7010 57 528 WFJ4D0 COD 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 7011 67 595 WFJ4D0 COD 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 7012 41 636 WFJ4D0 COD 158BN 101AC VIETNAM RVN 7101 60 696 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7102 101 797 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7103 92 889 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7104 87 976 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7105 88 1064 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7106 82 1146 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7107 64 1210 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7108 0 1210 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7109 61 1271 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7110 25 1296 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7111 39 1335 WFJ4D0 D 158TH AHB VIETNAM RVN 7112 12 1347 WFJ4D0 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7201 0 1347 WCLSAA 388 TC CO VIETNAM RVN 7202 0 1347 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7203 0 1347 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7204 0 1347 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7205 0 1347 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7206 0 1347 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS ITR CONUS AVSCOM 7207 0 1347 W0Y6AA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7208 0 1347 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7209 0 1347 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7210 0 1347 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7211 0 1347 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7212 0 1347 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN TRANSIT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7301 0 1347 W0MUAA AVSCOM PROJECT LOAN ST LOUIS AVSCOM 7302 0 1347 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7303 1 1348 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7304 2 1350 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7305 2 1352 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7306 14 1366 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM 7307 0 1366 WAA6AA 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7308 12 1378 WAA6AA 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7309 10 1388 WAA6AA 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7310 0 1388 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7311 4 1392 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7312 7 1399 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7401 2 1401 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7402 13 1414 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7403 9 1423 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7404 4 1427 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7405 5 1432 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7406 16 1448 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7410 14 1475 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7411 0 1475 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7412 20 1495 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7501 1 1496 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7502 1 1497 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7503 5 1502 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7504 25 1527 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7505 0 1527 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7506 0 1527 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7507 0 1527 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7508 0 1527 W0U34B SUPPLY DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7509 1 1528 W0U34B 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7510 0 1528 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7511 14 1542 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM 7512 3 1545 WAA6FF 82ND ABN DIV 1ST ARMY FORT BRAGG FORSCOM
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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