Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16524
The Army purchased this helicopter 0667
Total flight hours at this point: 00000940
Date: 10/31/1968
Incident number: 681031121ACD Accident case number: 681031121 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 54 SIG BN
The station for this helicopter was Nha Trang in South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BP992599
Number killed in accident = 10 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 6
costing 768954
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 CW2 CAVIN STEVEN IKE KIA
P WO1 DRISCOLL PAUL RICHARD KIA
CE SP4 BARTLETT DONALD HAROLD KIA
G SP4 BOWMAN JOSEPH MICHAEL KIA
Passengers and/or other participants:
SP4 EPPS PATRICK BEVERLY, AR, PX, KIA
1LT BATTAGLIA PHILIP J JR, AR, PX, KIA
1LT MAHONEY ALFRED RICHARD JR, AR, PX, KIA
1LT HENDEE LARRY KEITH, AR, PX, KIA
SFC HOLLAND FARIS E, NOT, A
1LT FLETCHER DONALD FRANK, AR, PX, KIA
Accident Summary:
Supercoach 524, a U.S. Army UH-1H aircraft, sn 66-16524, departed Nha Trang Air Force Base on or about 1740 hours, 31 October 1968, enroute to Qui Nhon via Dong Ba Thin (CP030295, map series 1507, sheet ND 49-13) and LZ Nha Trang West (BP900570), with courier and pay officers on board with the mission to deliver courier traffic and pay members of the unit at outlaying sights. The aircraft made a momentary stop at Dong Ba Thin enroute to LZ Nha Trang West to deplane one passenger. The aircraft departed LZ NhaTrang West at approximately 0835 with a crew of four (4) and six (6) passengers. At approximately 0840 Nha Trang Air Force Base tower received a "Mayday" call on guard channel stating "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is Supercoach 524, 5 miles north of Nha Trang going down by 100th Log Command, have severe lateral vibrations". (see tab 10 transcribed tower tape). The aircraft then crashed and burned. The sequence of events believed to have occurred after take off from LZ Nha Trang West are as follows: It is believed that the pilot flew low level through a saddle in the mountain range between LZ Nha Trang West and Ninh Hoa (970820). As he was going through the saddle, he lost a part of or all of a tail rotor blade which set up a vibration the pilot misinterpreted as a lateral. The pilot made a 180 degree turn to return to Nha Trang Air Force Base when the vibration set up by the unbalanced condition of the tail rotor made a major portion of the 90 degree gear box to separate from the aircraft. When the tail rotor and 90 degree gear box separated, the aircraft went into an extremely nose low attitude, at which time the pilot went into autorotation. The aircraft immediately went into a spin to the left. Just prior to final impact the main rotor sheared from the main rotor mast just below the head and then the main rotor struck and sheared the tail boom just aft of the cabin section (see photos 1, 2, and 3). The main cabin section made impact with the ground, which was a mountain side with a 45 degree slope covered with dense jungle, at about a 45 degree angle and believed to have come to rest on the left front nose. Post crash fire occurred on impact and was so intense that the entire cabin section was consumed except for the engine, transmission gears, and main rotor mast (see photos 3 and 4). The engine appeared to be operating at very low RPM at the time of impact because of little damage to turbine blades, other than impact damage. Inspection of the main rotor system indicated no failure prior to mast bumping. The tail rotor and a major portion of 90 degree gear box could not be found due to dense jungle, rugged terrain and the area being unsecured. There were no survivors and only witnesses were Republic of Korea soldiers about 750 meters from the scene of the accident.
This record was last updated on 10/02/2008
The following is crew member information for this incident:
Name: SP4 Donald Harold Bartlett
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.7
Date of Birth: 02/09/1948
Home City: Stonington, ME
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Field Force
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-061
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Service number: 51706679
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 06/27/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
Name: 1LT Philip J. Battaglia, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 23.0
Date of Birth: 10/23/1945
Home City: Orlando, FL
Service: SC branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Field Force
Service: SC branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-063
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Service number: O5343358
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 0500
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 08/08/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
Name: SP4 Joseph Michael Bowman
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 21.1
Date of Birth: 10/08/1947
Home City: York, PA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Field Force
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-062
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Service number: 51916536
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 09/28/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
Name: SP4 Patrick Beverly Epps
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 20.4
Date of Birth: 06/01/1948
Home City: Jamaica, NY
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Field Force
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-064
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Service number: 52756266
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 72B = Communications Center Specialist
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 04/06/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
Religion: Baptist - other groups
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
Name: 1LT Donald Frank Fletcher
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 25.6
Date of Birth: 04/01/1943
Home City: Kingsport, TN
Service: SC branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Signal Brigade
Service: SC branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-064
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Service number: O5336041
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 0215
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 01/28/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
Name: 1LT Larry Keith Hendee
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 24.0
Date of Birth: 11/18/1944
Home City: Round Lake, IL
Service: SC branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Field Force
Service: SC branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-065
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Service number: O5539931
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 0215
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 08/08/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
Name: 1LT Alfred Richard Mahoney, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 22.3
Date of Birth: 07/28/1946
Home City: Pasadena, CA
Service: SC branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Field Force
Service: SC branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-065
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Service number: O5346966
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 0140
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 06/02/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 07/30/1995
Name: CW2 Steven Ike Cavin
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.6
Date of Birth: 04/07/1945
Home City: Norfolk, VA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Field Force
Flight class: 67-17
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-063
Short Summary: Lost tail rotor and 90 degree gear box during a courier flight, called MAYDAY with bad vibration, crashed & burned.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Call sign: Supercoach 524
Service number: W3157729
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 12/01/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 03
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 04/26/2002
Name: WO1 Paul Richard Driscoll
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/31/1968 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.0
Date of Birth: 10/29/1946
Home City: Monument Beach, MA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 SIG BN
Major organization: 1st Field Force
Flight class: 67-19
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 40W-064
Short Summary: Lost tail rotor and 90 degree gear box during a courier flight, called MAYDAY with bad vibration, crashed & burned.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16524
Service number: W3158510
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 12/11/1967
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 02
Location: Khanh Hoa Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Roman Catholic
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 04/26/2002
The following is Goldbook
information on helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16524
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 0667.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY 196706 0 0 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT IN TRANSIT AVCOMCTR 196707 55 55 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196708 66 121 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196709 124 245 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196710 132 377 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196711 106 483 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196712 99 582 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196801 80 662 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196802 116 778 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196803 98 876 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196804 55 931 WCDXAA 2D SIGNAL GRP VIETNAM RVN 196805 0 931 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196806 0 931 3364 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY 196807 0 931 3364 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC 196808 1 932 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 196809 5 937 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 196810 3 940 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN 196811 0 940 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO VIETNAM RVN
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