Helicopter UH-1C 66-00657

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00657
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00000440
Date: 06/19/67
Unit: USARV FLT DET
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Operations Area this helicopter was in Orbit at 0300 feet and 090 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)
Systems damaged were: ENGINE, MAIN ROTOR SYS
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
for 45.00
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 72945, FM232 (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. )

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00657
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00000976
Date: 02/01/68
Unit: 355 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
Unknown this helicopter was Attacking at 0500 feet and 100 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 7 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 Right Side
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL, COMM SYS, ARMAMENT
Casualties = 01 WIA . .
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 03205 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00657
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00000976
Date: 02/16/68
Unit: 355 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0700 feet and 080 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 Right Side
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 04703 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00657
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00001565
Date: 08/17/68
Unit: HHD 44 ENG GP
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0800 feet and 100 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 4 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 Left Side
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 23002 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00657
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00002049
Date: 01/14/69
Unit: 68 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While on Landing Zone this helicopter was in Orbit at 0400 feet and 050 knots.
Unknown
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 01401 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00657
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00002071
Date: 03/01/69
Unit: OS TO CONUS
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO THEATER
for Close Air Support
While on Landing Zone this helicopter was Landing at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Explosive Weapon; Non-Artillery launched or static weapons containing explosive charges. (MORTAR)
causing a Blast.
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS
The helicopter made a Forced Landing. Aircraft is later recovered by any means other than its own power.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 06002 ()

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00657
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00002304
Date: 06/28/70
Unit: 189 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YA847252
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

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 66-00657
The Army purchased this helicopter 1166
Total flight hours at this point: 00002304
Date: 06/28/70
Incident number: 700628121ACD Accident case number: 700628121 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 189 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Pleiku in
Number killed in accident = 1 . . Injured = 3 . . Passengers = 1
costing 285215
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC W1 COCKRELL GL
P 1LT MOTE TERRY ALAN KIA
CE E4 FALKNER RS
G E4 SCHIEMAN EM

Accident Summary:

AT APPROXIMATELY 0730 HOURS 28 JUNE 1970, TWO UH1C AIRCRAFT FROM THE 189TH AVIATION COMPANY DEPARTED AS A FLIGHT FROM CAMP HOLLOWAY, RVN, ENROUTE TO DUC CO, RVN. THE FLIGHT TO DUC CO, AND A RECONNAISSANCE OF THE AREA LASTED ONE HOUR. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AT DUC CO WITHOUT ANY DIFFICULTIES HAVING BEEN ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT REFUELED AND REMAINED ON THE GROUND ON STANDBY. AT 1730 HOURS 28 JUNE 1970 THEY WERE RELEASED FROM THEIR MISSION. IMMEDIATE AFTER THEIR RELEASE THE TWO HELICOPTERS DEPARTED THE DUC CO AIRFIELD AS A FLIGHT. AIRCRAFT 66-657 WAS AGAIN THE NUMBER TWO AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF FLYING IN THE LEFT WINGMANS POSITION. TAKE-OFF WAS ACCOMPLISHED FROM THE EAST END OF THE AIRFIELD USING RUNWAY 23. ON TAKE-OFF, WO1 COCKRELL STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED FROM 6600 TO 6400 RPM. THIS HOWEVER WAS QUICKLY REGAINED AS THE AIRCRAFT NED AS THE AIRCRAFT REACHED TRANSLATIONAL LIFT. AS THE AIRCRAFT REACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, AT AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF FROM 50 TO 75 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT IN CHARGE INITIATED A LEFT TURN-OUT, BANKING THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT IN A 5 TO 10 DEGREE BANK. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LEVELED IN A HEADING OF 210 DEGREES. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT NOTED THAT HIS ENGINE RPM HAD DECREASED TO 6000 RPM, AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEGUN TO SETTLE. HE IMMEDIATELY MADE A RADIO TRANSMISSION TO THE LEAD AIRCRAFT,"JOHN WE ARE GOING DOWN". WO COCKRELL IMMEDIATELY RETARDED THE THROTTLE AND REQUESTED THAT HIS CO-PILOT PLACE THE GOVERNOR SELECTOR SWITCH IN THE EMERGENCY POSITION, AS HE SUSPECTED THAT HE HAD A LOW SIDE GOVERNOR FAILURE. THE ENGINE RPM CONTINUED TO DECREASE AND WAS INDICATING 5500 RPM, THE TORQUEMETER WAS INDICATING 34 TO 35 POUNDS. AFTER THE SELECTOR SWITCH WAS PLACED IN THE EMERGENCY POSITION THE DESCENT CONTINUED AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. AS THE AIRCRAFT PASSED THRU AN ALTITUDE OF 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 55 KNOTS. NOTING THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE GOVERNOR AND THROTTLE WO COCKRELL INITIATED A CYCLIC FLARE, SIMULTANEOUSLY APPLYING COLLECTIVE PITCH TO CUSHION HIS LANDING. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND WITH APPROXIMATELY 45 KNOTS INDICATED AIRSPEED. SKID MARKS AT THE SCENE INDICATE THAT THE AIRCRAFT MADE IMPACT WITH THE GROUND IN A SKIDS LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LANDED IN A CLEARED AREA, HOWEVER THERE WERE SEVERAL STUMPS HIDDEN IN THE GRASS. AS THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED FORWARD, IT STRUCK SEVERAL OF THESE HIDDEN STUMPS CAUSING IT TO ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES COMING TO A STOP ON ITS LEFT SIDE, 200 FEET FROM THE INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT. THE TAIL BOOM WAS SEVERED AND CAME TO REST 100 FEET FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT. THE COCKPIT WAS CRUSHED AND DEBRIS WAS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE AREA. THE CREWCHIEF AND GUNNER WERE THROWN CLEAR OF THE AIRCRAFT ON IMPACT. SP4 FALKNER, THE CREWCHIEF DID NOT HAVE HIS SEAT BELT FASTENED. THE PILOT IN CHARGE, WAS STILL IN HIS SEAT, HE RELEASED HIS SEAT BELT AND CLIMBED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CO-PILOT WAS PINNED IN HIS SEAT, UPSIDE DOWN, UNTIL RESCUE WORKERS ARRIVED. RESCUE WORKERS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE IMMEDIATELY AND PROCEEDED TO EVACUATE ALL THE CASUALTIES. WO COCKRELL STATES THAT AFTER HE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT, HE NOTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY SLOWLY AND CONTINUED TO DO SO FOR A FEW MINUTES. JP-4 FUEL FROM THE TANKS HAD SPRAYED ALL OVER THE WRECKAGE HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT BURN. AT 1830 HOURS CAPTAIN MISUREK, THE 52D BN SAFETY OFFICER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH ALONG WITH CAPTAIN JOHN SCHACHLEITER, ASST S-3 52D AVN BN. THESE OFFICERS SECURED THE WRECKAGE AND TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CRASH. GROUND FORCES WERE BROUGHT INTO THE AREA AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS SECURED FOR THE NIGHT. THE LEAD AIRCRAFT PILOTED BY WO1 JOHN HATTON HEARD THE DISTRESS CALL ON HIS RADIO AND IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED A LEFT TURN, HE WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE HIS WINGMAN CRASH IN A SKIDS LEVEL ATTITUDE, SLIDE FORWARD, AND THEN ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES. WO HATTON MADE ANOTHER DISTRESS CALL AND LANDED TO RENDER ASSISTANCE.\\

This record was last updated on 02/10/03

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: 1LT Terry Alan Mote
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 06/28/70 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Died 3 days later on 07/01/70.
Age at death: 23.6
Date of Birth: 11/10/46
Home City: Rockville, MD
Service: IN branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 189 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 69-44
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 09W-109
Short Summary: Engine failure shortly after takeoff with resulting crash. Remainder of the crew survived, AC WO1 Cockrell, CE E4 Falkner, G E4 Schiemen
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 66-00657
Call sign: Ghostriders
SSN: 213446946
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 04/14/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Pleiku Province II Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
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 07/29/94

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 66-00657
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 1166.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
196611   0    0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        SUPMACOM
196612   0    0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD        SUPMACOM
196701  39   39 3397   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196702  55   94 3397   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196703  88  182 3397   POST SUPPLY      6TH ARMY   FORT ORD         6TH ARMY
196704 124  306 3397   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196705  79  385 3397   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM
196706  55  440 3397   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
196707  21  461 3397   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
196708  30  491 3397   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196709  41  532 3397   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196710  97  629 3397   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196711  75  704 3397   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
196712  94  798 3397   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
196801 110  908 3397   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
196802  68  976 3397   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
196803 100 1076 3397   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
196804  95 1171 3397   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196805  84 1255 3397   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
196806  94 1349 3397   355 AVN CO       4TH ARMY   FORT SILL        4TH ARMY
196807  97 1446 3397   OPM SEA NITEOPS  1ST ARMY   FORT BELVOIR     AMC     
196808 119 1565 3397   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
196809 110 1675 3397   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
196810  95 1770 3397   HHD 44 ENG GP    THAILAND                    PACIFIC 
196811  71 1841 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196812 108 1949 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196901 100 2049 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196902  22 2071 WC3FAA 68 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
196903   0 2071 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR
196904   0 2071 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM   
196905   0 2071 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196906   0 2071 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196907   0 2071 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196908   0 2071 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196909   0 2071 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196910   0 2071 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196911   0 2081 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
196912   0 2087 W2WJAA BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM   
197001   1 2088 WC5GAA 610 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
197002  20 2108 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197003  48 2156 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197004  83 2239 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197005  44 2283 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197006  21 2304 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN

Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush
43 Overbrook Road
Painted Post, NY 14870

Send comments and questions to Gary Roush at webmaster@vhpa.org

Printed from databases on: 05/14/04

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