Rattler/Firebird Guestbook

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

Date: 21 Mar 1971
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 162
Unit: 71 AHC
Laos
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report.)
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
CP MARKIEWICZ RONALD E

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

No records found.

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

Date: 16 Jun 1971
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 675
Accident case number: 710616081
Unit: 71 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 111125
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 CARLISLE MR
P W1 MOSS SA
CE E4 BAILEY TD
G E4 LINER A

Passengers:
O4 JE BURNS, PAX, G;


Accident Summary:

The aircraft commander, pilot and crew departed Chu Lai Army Airfield in UH-1H 69-15762 at 0845 hours 16 June 1971, for a 5th ARVN C&C mission. the day was uneventful until around 1645 hours. Mr Michael Carlisle, the aircraft commander, was flying and set up his approach from east to west so as to land into the wind. On short final the aircraft commander felt a feedback in the cyclic control and a stiff collective. With the help of his pilot, Mr Carlisle landed the aircraft. As UH-1H 69-15762 touched down its main rotor blade struck the stabilizer bar of a VNAF aircraft parked on a pad adjacent to the touch down point. the blade strike set up a severe vibration in aircraft 69-15762, causing it to bounce away from the VNAF helecopter. The aircraft had seven passengers and four crew members at the time of the accident.

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

Date: 23 Jan 1971
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 346
Accident case number: 710123111
Unit: 71 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 2936
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 WOMACK DH

Accident Summary:

The AC was landing at a hillside field location due to a pu-draft along the hillside he was forced to land downwind. The aircraft did not have enough power on short final and his repaid descent did not allow him to clear and on emain rotor blade struck a tree limb. Aircraft sustrained and 8 inch slash to one rotor blade. The aircraft was flown back to Chu Lai.

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

Date: 04 Aug 1971
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 579
Accident case number: 710804091
Unit: 174 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 3 . . Passengers = 1
costing 71092
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 W1 BOSTON TW
P W1 MILLER CK
CE E4 WHIGHAM DL
G E4 HUTCHINGS JM

Passengers:
LC LOCAL, LCO, G;


Accident Summary:

On the morning of 4 August 1971, aircraft 69-15759 departed the 174th AHC in Chu Lai on a direct support mission. The aircraft was flown for four hours and thirty minutes, supplying various fire support bases. On the last sorties, the aircraft departed Quang Ngai enroute to Hill 411, the last trip of many to that location. The aircraft had a poor hover check of 35 pounds of torque, and the N1 was 97.0% at approximately 38 degrees centigrade. The aircraft made a takeoff and approached Hill 411. The aircraft commander started his approach and began to bleed RPM as power was increased prior to landing. He lowered collective in an attempt to regain RPM. This did not result in an increase in RPM. The aircraft was approximately ten feet above the ground and approximately twenty five to thirty feet from the pad when the aircraft commander elected to attempt a go around. The RPM was not sufficient to accommodate the increased demand for power for the go around, and the aircraft fell through, striking a bunker, sliding and rolling over while traveling down a hill. The personnel on Hill 411 called emergency Dust-Off for the crew. There was no need for a defensive perimeter, as the aircraft landed within the perimeter of Hill 411. There was no fire, however there was fuel leakage. All crew members were wearing the required protective clothing to include; leather boots, flight helmets, nomex flight suits, and gloves. All radios and secure gear were salvaged.

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

No records found.

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

Date: 10 May 1971
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 763
Accident case number: 710510121
Unit: 71 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 5872
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC O2 WOLCOTT DL

Accident Summary:

While during post-flight inspection both main rotor blades were found to have tears on the underside of both blades. The crew has negative knowledge on how the blades were torn.

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

Date: 19 Sep 1970
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 256
Accident case number: 700919011
Unit: 71 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 1204
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 MASSNER EF

Accident Summary:

AC was starting aircraft in revetment. AC and pilot were in the cockpit with crew chief and gunner dismounted. Starter switch was engaged for approximately 15 seconds when a bystander rushed up to the AC and informed him that the main rotor blades were tied down. The aircraft yawed right causing the tail boom the strike the revetment resulting in major damage. The aircraft was immediately shut down with no further damage.

Date: 26 Feb 1971
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 934
Accident case number: 710226061
Unit: 71 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Chu Lai in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
costing 360
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 GRUBBS PL

Accident Summary:

During landing to LZ on low recon the pilot failed to notice a small bush. While hovering in the LZ and while the A/C was being unloaded the tail rotor blade dipped and struck the bush.

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

No records found.

Aircraft Assignment History

Aircraft Accident/Incident History

Date: 15 Aug 1970
Description:
Total flight hours at this point: 48
MIA-POW file reference number: 1657
Incident number: 70081525.KIA
Unit: 71 AHC
Laos
UTM grid coordinates: YC509163
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Reference Notes. Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: 1657 ()
Loss to Inventory
Crew: BECKER, JAMES CHRISTOF;

Crew Members:
G SP4 SCHMIDT PETER ALDEN BNR
P 1LT BECKER JAMES CHRISTOF BNR

SYNOPSIS: On August 15, 1970, 1Lt. James C. Becker, pilot; CW2 Raymond W. Anderson, aircraft commander; SP4 Michael D. Christ, crewchief; and SP4 Peter A. Schmidt, door gunner; were flying a UH1H helicopter (tail number 69-15375) on a reconnaissance team extraction mission in Laos. Because of the difficult terrain in the area of the planned extraction, the recon team was to be lifted out by ladder. The helicopter hovered 50 feet over the pickup zone and dropped the ladder from the right side of the aircraft. Five of the team members climbed onto the ladder, and the helicopter began to lift off. At about 100 feet the aircraft began to receive small arms fire and crashed. The five team members were stripped off the ladder by the trees as the helicopter descended. After the crash, CW2 Anderson checked the two crewmen on the right side of the aircraft, noticing that 1Lt. Becker was upright in his seat, however, it seemed that he had hit his head into the overhead instrument panel in the force of the impact. Becker's helmet was gone, and there was blood on the floor. CW2 Anderson stated that Becker did not appear to be breathing. Anderson then unsuccessfully attempted to free Schmidt from the right gunnel. He noted no blood on Schmidt, but stated that Schmidt did not appear to be breathing. SP4 Christ checked SP4 Schmidt and noticed that he was breathing, and in short gasps, and was losing a great deal of blood. Christ had dislocated his collarbone, so was unable to free Schmidt from the wreckage. Christ and Anderson returned to the pickup zone and were extracted. No attempts were made to return and recover Becker and Schmidt because of the location and hostile forces in the area. Although no other personnel are listed as missing from this incident, the fate of the team members on the ladder remains unknown. They were either recovered (dead or alive), or were indigenous personnel (and would not be listed on U.S. casualty lists).

Aircraft Assignment History