Helicopter UH-1H 66-16356

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16356
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00002279
Date: 02/26/70
Accident case number: 700226301
Unit: 189 AHC
The station for this helicopter was Pleiku in
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 1
costing 23686
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
P W1 VEAL WT
IP W1 DOWD RA

Passengers:
O4 GA MORGAN, LCO, G;

Accident Summary:

THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT AND PILOT OF AIRCRAFT, UH-1H SERIAL NUMBER 66-16356, WERE INVOLVED IN A CHECK RIDE AND WERE DOING AUTOROTATIONS. WO-1 VEAL WAS APPARENTLY HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCOMPLISHING A SUCCESSFUL AUTOROTATION AND WAS EITHER WAITING TOO LONG TO INITIATE THE DECELARATION AND/OR MAINTAINING THE DECELERATION FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD. THE AIRCRAFT UPON IMPACT WAS AT AN EXTREMELY TAIL-LOW ATTITUDE AND THE TAIL STINGER AND TAIL ROTOR IMPACTED HARD, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO BOUNCE AND TERMINATE ON THE MOST WESTERLY PORTION OF THE AUTOROTATION LANE OR STRIP. UPON IMPACT THE TAIL ROTOR BLADES AND 90 DEG GEAR BOX WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, A PIECE OF THE TAIL ROTOR APPARENTLY STRUCK THE TOP OF ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES. THE TAIL ROTOR DRIVE SHAFT WAS COMPLETELY TWISTED APART.\\

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 66-16356
The Army purchased this helicopter 0567
Total flight hours at this point: 00002609
Date: 01/22/71
Incident number: 71012222.KIA
Unit: 240 AHC
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: YS240957
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

Crew Members:
P WO1 SEABORN WILLIAM HERMAN JR KIA

Passengers:
SGT CELANO FRANK ANTHONY, AR, PX, KIA; SSG LOVELACE KENNETH, AR, PX, KIA; SGT OPPERMAN HUGH DANIEL, AR, PX, KIA

War Story:
An incident related to Rog Johnson, happening the same day, was the crash of a UH-1 that was attempting to insert a special forces team near the crash site. They were in the area training at the time of the crash, and responded to my call for assistance. They were hovering over a hole in the canopy, and with Special Forces folks on rapelling lines, they were shot down. I believe one of the UH-1 crewmen was killed, along with two or three of the SF folks. Not a great day for the good guys. From: "Hugh \"Sandy\" McLeod" Feb 1999.

This record was last updated on 03/01/99

The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 William Herman Seaborn, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 01/22/71 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 23.8
Date of Birth: 04/06/47
Home City: Birmingham, AL
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 240 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-5/70-3
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-061
Short Summary: On rescue mission for downed LOH hit by ground fire while hovering for rappelling 11th Special Forces, flipped over. Near Bear Cat.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-16356
SSN: 416661786
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/18/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Baptist - other groups
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 03/01/99

Name: SGT Frank Anthony Celano
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 01/22/71 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 07/19/49
Home City: Los Banos, CA
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: Special Forces
Major organization: Special Forces
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-060
Short Summary: On rescue mission for downed LOH hit by ground fire while hovering for rappelling 11th Special Forces, flipped over. Near Bear Cat.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-16356
SSN: 557660750
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11B4S = Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/13/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single 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: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 03/01/99

Name: SSG Kenneth Lovelace
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 01/22/71 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 02/21/43
Home City: Bellefontaine, OH
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: Special Forces
Major organization: Special Forces
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-060
Short Summary: On rescue mission for downed LOH hit by ground fire while hovering for rappelling 11th Special Forces, flipped over. Near Bear Cat.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-16356
SSN: 276385092
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11F4S = Infantry Operations And Intelligence Specialist
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: passenger
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 03/27/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married 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: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 03/01/99

Name: SGT Hugh Daniel Opperman
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 01/22/71 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Date of Birth: 01/21/50
Home City: Honolulu, HI
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: Special Forces
Major organization: Special Forces
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 05W-061
Short Summary: On rescue mission for downed LOH hit by ground fire while hovering for rappelling 11th Special Forces, flipped over. Near Bear Cat.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-16356
SSN: 576568771
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 11C4S = Indirect Fire Infantryman
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: not a crew member
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 12/15/70
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Bien Hoa Province III Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Episcopal (Anglican)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 03/01/99

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 66-16356
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 0567.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6705  18   18 2467   ARMY AVN DIV     6TH ARMY   DUGWAY PG        TEVALCOM      
6706  33   51 2467   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
6707  19   70 2467   USARV FLT DET    VIETNAM                     RVN     
6708  32  102 2467   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6709   0  102 2467   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6710   0  102 2467   BELL HCPTR       BAILMENT   FT WORTH         AVCOM     
6711  12  114 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6712 145  259 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6801  97  356 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6802 114  470 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6803  46  516 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6804 127  643 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6805 116  759 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6806  98  857 WDUYAA 192 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
6807 101  958 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6808 122 1080 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6809 126 1206 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6810  65 1271 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6811 105 1376 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6812  90 1466 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6901  99 1565 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6902  97 1662 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6903 140 1802 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6904 106 1908 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6905 107 2015 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6906 100 2115 WC3EAA 48 ASLT HEL CO   VIETNAM                     RVN     
6907   0 2115 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR  
6908   0 2115 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6909   0 2115 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6910   0 2115 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6911   1 2116 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
6912   1 2117 WCLNAA 79 TRANS CO      VIETNAM                     RVN     
7001  65 2182 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7002  97 2279 WDUVAA 189 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7003   0 2279 WC5CAA 604 TRANS CO     VIETNAM                     RVN     
7004   0 2279 W0Y6AA OS TO CONUS      ITR CONUS                   AVCOMITR  
7005   0 2279 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7006   0 2279 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7007   0 2279 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM        
7008  10 2289 W0MUAA ARADMAC          IN MAINT   NAVAL AIR STN    AVCOM         
7009   9 2298 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7010 121 2419 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7011 105 2524 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO  VIETNAM                     RVN     
7012  85 2609 WDYBAA 240 ASLT HEL CO  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: 04/02/99

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