Ken, to add to what Pickett found, here's the Goldbook report on the 1/17/70 accident for 68-16464:
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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 68-16464
The Army purchased this helicopter 1169
Total flight hours at this point: 00000092
Date: 01/17/70
Incident number: 70011719.BAT Accident case number: 700117071
Unit: 119 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Camp Holloway in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 45019
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: Also 1970 Unit History ()
Summary: Hit a tree with tail rotor while being cleared into LZ.
Crew Members:
AC O2 MASAK SA
P W1 INGRAM I
CE E4 WILLIAMSON JE
G E3 EBERHARD KR
Passengers:
FLIGHT SURGEON, M, G;
Accident Summary:
ON THE AFTERNOON OF 17 JANUARY 1970, 1LT MASAK AND HIS CREW WERE PARTICIPATING IN A COMBAT ASSAULT FOR A RECONNAISSANCE IN FORCE FROM LANDING ZONE HARD TIMES TO THE LANDING ZONE AT BR 584765. 1LT MASAK'S SHIP WAS CHALK FOUR OF THE FLIGHT TO GO INTO THE LANDING ZONE, ONE SHIP AT A TIME. HE CAME INTO THE LANDING ZONE ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY DUE WEST. WHEN HE GOT INTO THE LANDING ZONE HE FOUND OUT THE OBSTACLES IN THE LANDING SOME WOULD IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN, SO HE BROUGHT IT TO A HOVER. HE THEN TURNED HIS NOSE ABOUT 45 DEG NORTH AND BACKED HIS AIRCRAFT UP SO THE TROOPS WOULD NOT HAVE TO JUMP INTO THE BOMB CRATER WHICH WAS ABOUT 15 FEET WIDE AND 7 FEET DEEP. AT THIS TIME HIS TAIL WAS BETWEEN THE TREE AND THE STUMP WHICH WAS 3 FEET HIGH. THE STUMP WAS THE ONLY OBSTACLE IN THE CENTER OF THE LANDING ZONE EXCEPT THE BOMB CRATER. AFTER THE TROOPS JUMPED OFF, 1LT MASAK STARTED TO BRING HIS AIRCRAFT OUT OF THE LANDING ZONE WHILE HIS CREW WATCHED TO SEE IF HE WOULD CLEAR THE LANDING ZONE. ON TAKE OFF HIS TAIL ROTOR STRUCK THE STUMP, HE LOST ANTITORQUE CONTROL AND STARTED TO SPIN TO THE RIGHT. AFTER HE WAS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL HE ENTERED AUTOROTATION AND HELD THE AIRCRAFT TO THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE LNADING ZOONE TO KEEP FROM HITTING ANY TROOPS. WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN, THE SLOPE WAS TO STEEP FOR THE AIRCRAFT TO REMAIN UPRIGHT AND IT CONSEQUENTLY ROLLED ON ITS RIGHT SIDE. THE CREW EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE PICKED UP BY ANOTHER UH-1H THAT CAME WHEN IT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CREW WAS TAKEN TO CAMP HOLLOWAY TO BE EXAMINED FOR POSSIBLE INJURY.\\
War Story:
The 119th AHC unit history records: During a troop insert 7 KM north of LZ HARDTIMES, Gator 464, while being cleared into an LZ hit a tree with the tail rotor. The aircraft lost its tail rotor instantly and LT Masak cut the throttle and initiated a hovering autorotation. The pilot lost control and the aircraft rolled. The aircraft was a total loss, but there were no injuries to the pilots, crew, or the six infantry pax on board.
This record was last updated on 07/05/98
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Must have been quite a ride.
The paragraph about Roussell's hydraulic failure was actually about 67-17719, which was repaired and put back in service.
464, with only 92 hours on it at the time of your crash, was actually eventually repaired and went on to serve for a long time. I can send a copy of what they have on it if you want.
Cannot find anything about 2/10/70 yet, sorry.
Bob Kilpatrick