Just as I suspected, Dave. Here's the problem: two Real Live Officers in the same cockpit. (Just kidding, just kidding.) Problem is they tried to lift 6 grunts. High PZ elevation, hot in June, humid, plus six grunts weigh a lot more than 1200 lbs. You tell me the average guy's weight, then add his ruck, weapons, water, etc.
Must have been one hell of a ride. Lucky he didn't mow down a mess of guys in the LZ.
Bob
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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16611
The Army purchased this helicopter 0767
Total flight hours at this point: 00002027
Date: 06/27/69
Accident case number: 690627271
Unit: A/4 AVN 4 INF
The station for this helicopter was An Khe in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 10752
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.
Crew Members:
AC O2 JOHNSON JA
P O2 WOZOLEK J
CE E4 KIMBERLIN SE
G E4 PAQUETTE JP
Passengers:
UNK SIX, PAX, G;
Accident Summary:
ON 27 JUNE 1969, AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 HRS, 1LT JAMES A JOHNSON WAS AIRCRAFT COMMANDER ON UH-1H, 66-16611. LT JONSON LANDED IN AN LZ AND PICKED UP SIX PASSENGERS ALTHOUGH THE LZ WAS SMALL HE THOUGHT HE COULD MAKE A SAFE DEPARTURE. HIS CARGO WEIGHT WAS APPROXIMATELY 1200 LBS., AND HIS FUEL LOAD WAS1200 LBS., GIVING HIM A MAXIMUM LOAD UPON PULLING A HOVER CHECK HE FOUND IT WOULD HOVER AT 38 LBS OFTORQUE, WITHOUT BLEEDING RPM. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT WENT THROUGH TRANSLATION LIFT AT APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 41 LBS OF TORQUE AND 98% TO 99%. AS HE CLEARED THE BARRIERS THE ENGINE RPM BLED TO 5900 AND THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DESCEND INTO THE TREES. REALIZING THAT THEY HAD NO LANDING AREA BUT NOT WANTING TO GO DOWN IN THE TREES HE PULLED AFT CYCLIC TO TRY TO GET BACK TO THE LZ. WHEN LT JOHNSON FELT THAT HE HAD BACKED FAR ENOUGHTHAT HIS TAIL WAS CLEARED OF THE TREES HE KICKED PEDAL TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT AROUND BEFORE GROUND CONTACT WAS MADE. AS THE AIRCRAFT TURNED 180 DEG HE ATTEMPTED A RUNNING LANDING BUT HAD LOST SO MUCH RPM THAT HE HAD NO TAIL ROTOR CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SPIN AND WAS 90 DEG FROM THE INTENDED LANDING AXIS. JUST PRIOR TO TOUCH DOWN LT JOHNSON PULLED MORE COLLECTIVE TRYING TO CUSHION THELANDING. GROUND CONTACT WAS MADE MOVING SIDEWAYS ON THE LEFT REAR SKID CAUSING THE SKID TO COLLAPSEAND THE LEFT CHIN BUBBLE TO STRIKE THE GROUND, AT THIS TIME ALL THE PASSENGERS LEFT THE AIRCRAFT ANDSINCE LT JOHNSON FAILED TO LOWER THE PITCH THE AIRCRAFT CAME OFF THE GROUND AS THE RPM BUILT BACK. THE AIRCRAFT CAME UP IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE CAUSING THE TAIL ROTOR AND SYNCRONIZED ELEVATOR TO STRIKE THE GROUND. LT JOHNSON REDUCED PITCH TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT BACK ON THE GROUND AND EXECUTED EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN PROCEDURE.\\