1968 UH-1 crash research

[mustangdriver]

Does anyone have any info of a Huey that crashed on Aug. 19th 1968? There were either 2 or 4 deaths associated with the crash. I think that the investigations points to a tail rotor drive shaft, but I want to see if anyone has anything else. The A/C serial number is 66-00937. It took place in or near Dong Tang(spelling?). I am trying to help a vetreran who was there uncover more of what happened. Thank you in advance.

[N3Njeff]

Send me a E-mail to vtdeucedriver@yahoo.com and I will work my "magic".

[N3Njeff]

Started digging but I got to go to work.


8-19-69
Uh-1D 66-00937
D troop, 3/5 Cav "long Knives"

Dinh Tuong Provience

SGT Bruce Brogoiatti
SGT Donald Hawkins
SFC Ralph Milbourne
SSG Victor Trujillo

[Versatile]

A buddy of mine was a door gunner in that area about that time and got shot down mucho times. He was in the 1st brigade of the 5th Air Calvary iirc.

[mustangdriver]

Well, how I understand everything is there was a situations of maybe a tool left in the tail of this aircraft causing the tail rotor driveshaft to fail. Do you all think this is possible.

[skymstr02]

Doesn't sound plausable to me. The TR driveshaft rides in pillow bearings above the tail cone. Its under the side hinged fairing on top of the tail cone.

[mustangdriver]

There is a veteran and fanily that are trying to clear the name of a mechanic unofficially blamed for the accident.

[N3Njeff]

That could be possible but I would think that to seperate that shaft, it would have needed to be a pretty big wrench.

[mustangdriver]

Some think it was a ball pin hammer.

[NC_Rotorhead]

A Huey Drive Shaft section is made of really tough but thin aluminum tubing. It can take a round and keep on ticking. It just doesn't like to be rubbed. A piece of paper can cut it, which is why it is covered with another piece of aluminum covering to keep the junk out. If a tool got left in the housing, sure it would do it's dirty work pretty quick (tools and high speed rotating parts don't mix). Lots of checks to make sure that kind of thing doesn't happen though.

[SIDSIKO]

Accident Summary:

The aircraft departed Dong Tam airfield on a 'people sniffer' mission. The aircraft departed the area southeast of the fixed wing strip, known as the south forty on a westerly heading and climbed to an altitude of approximately 1300 feet. The aircraft was following the command and control helicopter, but was not in formation with it. At approximately 23 miles west north west of Dong Tam, the command and control aircraft with WO McCloskey at the controls entered a turn to the left, establishing a 20 degree angle of bank and maintaining approximately 85 knots airspeed. While in the turn, the tail rotor drive shaft sheared due to a ball peen hammer left under the drive shaft cowling, rubbing against the drive shaft causing metal fatigue. After tail rotor failure, the airspeed decreased from 85 knots to 40 knots causing the aircraft to spin to the right. Application of forward cyclic failed to increase the airspeed and the aircraft continued in a right hand spin. Just prior to impact, the aircraft was leveled and impacted the ground in a level attitude. Upon impact, it burst into flames and rolled on its left side. The rolling was the only movement the aircraft made after impacting the ground
Crew Members:
AC W1 LAKE KR
P W1 MCCLOSKEY CB
CE SGT BROGOITTI BRUCE CLAYTON KIA
G SGT HAWKINS DONALD DALE KIA

Passengers:
SFC MILBOURNE RALPH WILLIAM, AR, PX, KIA; SSG TRUJILLO VICTOR DAVID, AR, PX, KIA;

[viking73]

Jeff, please check your e-mail when you can. I also need help with some more info. for another 1968 Huey crash concering my father.

Thanks,

-Derek

[mustangdriver]

Wow! THank you for the info.

[N3Njeff]

Jeff, please check your e-mail when you can. I also need help with some more info. for another 1968 Huey crash concering my father.

Thanks,

-Derek

E-mail sent.

[N3Njeff]

Wow! THank you for the info.

Diddent I send you that info a long time ago??