Helicopter UH-1D 66-16840

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16840
The Army purchased this helicopter 0967
Total flight hours at this point: 00003405
Date: 02/25/1972
Incident number: 720225101ACD Accident case number: 720225101 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: C/7/17 CAV
The station for this helicopter was An Son in South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BP090223
Casualties = 05 DOI . . Number killed in accident = 5 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 3
costing 580945
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. )
Summary: Crashed and burst into flames after experiencing an engine failure at low level while starting a Night Hawk mission over Cam Ranh Bay.
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P 1LT FITZGERALD MARK JOSEPH KIA
AC 1LT JOHNSTON DAVID NEAL KIA
CE SP4 JONES ROMAN LEE KIA
G SP4 HALL MARVIN LOUIS KIA
PX SP4 GALBREATH ROBERT GENE KIA

Accident Summary:

At 1725 local, Night Hawk aircraft #66-16840 took off from Cam Rahn Air Force Base to test the Night Hawk system aboard before being released for that mission. At 1732 local, they requested permission to cross Cam Rahn's southern extension of runway 20. At approximately 1736 the transmission "Engine failure, going down at this time!" was heard from the aircraft. The aircraft was flying north board at approximately 100 feet when a left and right yawing occurred and the aircraft started descending. One witness stated it sounded like the engine was running down. At about 25 to 30 feet AGL it was noted that the main rotor had slowed noticeably and the aircraft was in a 30 degree nose high attitude. The aircraft impacted tail stinger/end of tail boom first, leaving an accurate account in the sand. The aircraft next hit slightly nose low with the right skid breaking at the rear crosstube. At this point on the ground there was a 15 degree slope running right to left. The aircraft still had forward momentum and rotated around the nose about 170 degrees clockwise hitting the ground nose low and breaking the tail boom. As the aircraft settled a main rotor blade hit the uphill side at about the 10 o'clock position pulling the transmission right and forward and rolling the aircraft over onto its right side. At what point the aircraft burst into flames is not clear. However it was between the initial impact and the time it finally came to rest. Witnesses stated that no attempt at escape by the crew was observed. The aircraft did not have a crash worthy fuel system. Initial autopsy reports indicate survivable to partially survivable accident without the fire

This record was last updated on 08/10/1999

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: 1LT Mark Joseph Fitzgerald
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/25/1972 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.1
Date of Birth: 01/29/1950
Home City: Weymouth, MA
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/7/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 71-24/71-22
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-110
Short Summary: Died of crash injuries and burns after experiencing an engine failure at low level while starting a Night Hawk mission over Cam Ranh Bay
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16840
SSN: 019401687
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 10/14/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Ninh Thuan Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BP090223
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is 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 08/10/1999

Name: SP4 Robert Gene Galbreath
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/25/1972 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 19.9
Date of Birth: 03/25/1952
Home City: Winchester, NH
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/7/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-110
Short Summary: Died of crash injuries and burns after experiencing an engine failure at low level while starting a Night Hawk mission over Cam Ranh Bay
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16840
SSN: 001400934
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: observer
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 06/28/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Ninh Thuan Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BP090223
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information is 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 08/10/1999

Name: SP4 Marvin Louis Hall
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/25/1972 while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 20.3
Date of Birth: 11/04/1951
Home City: Prentiss, MS
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/7/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-110
Short Summary: Died of crash injuries and burns after experiencing an engine failure at low level while starting a Night Hawk mission over Cam Ranh Bay
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16840
SSN: 587461955
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 09/07/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Ninh Thuan Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BP090223
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is 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 08/10/1999

Name: 1LT David Neal Johnston
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/25/1972 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 23.5
Date of Birth: 09/11/1948
Home City: Lancaster, OH
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/7/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 71-24
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-111
Short Summary: Died of crash injuries and burns after experiencing an engine failure at low level while starting a Night Hawk mission over Cam Ranh Bay
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16840
SSN: 286427278
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 08/31/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Ninh Thuan Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BP090223
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
The following information is 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 08/10/1999

Name: SP4 Roman Lee Jones
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 02/25/1972 while performing the duty of Crew Chief.
Age at death: 20.7
Date of Birth: 07/01/1951
Home City: Gary, IN
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/7/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 02W-111
Short Summary: Died of crash injuries and burns after experiencing an engine failure at low level while starting a Night Hawk mission over Cam Ranh Bay
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16840
SSN: 307569625
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: *
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 09/21/1971
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Ninh Thuan Province II Corps.
Military grid coordinates of event: BP090223
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died of other causes
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Negro
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is 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 08/10/1999

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16840
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 0967.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6709   8    8 9221   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM    
6710   0    8 9221   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM    
6711   0    8 9221   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6712   0    8 9221   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6801   0    8 9221   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6802   0    8 9221   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6803   0    8 9221   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6804   0    8 9221   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM    
6805   0    8 9221   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
6806  45   53 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6807 142  195 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6808 117  312 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6809 104  416 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6810  87  503 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6811  99  602 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6812   0  602 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6901 175  777 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6902 178  955 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6903 103 1058 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6904  80 1138 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6905 101 1239 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906  95 1334 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907  88 1422 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6908  74 1496 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6909 118 1614 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6910 153 1767 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6911  72 1839 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6912  89 1928 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  94 2022 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002   2 2024 WC5EAA 608 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003   0 2024 W0Y6AA INTRANSIT        IN TRANSIT                  AVCOMCTR 
7004   0 2024 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7005   0 2024 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7006   2 2026 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7007   0 2026 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7008 119 2145 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
7009  79 2224 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010 116 2340 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011  63 2403 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012  62 2465 WAX6AA 92 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
7101 112 2577 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7102  76 2653 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7103 101 2754 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7104  84 2838 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7105 143 2981 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7106  72 3053 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7107  51 3104 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7108  74 3178 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7109  12 3190 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7110  71 3261 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7111  39 3300 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7112  22 3322 WAX6AA 92 AHC           VIETNAM                     RVN     
7201  44 3366 WAZNA0 7 17 CAV A TRP   VIETNAM                     RVN     
7202  39 3405 WAZNA0 7 17 CAV A TRP   VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

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Printed from databases on: 07/04/2000

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