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67-18462, Boeing build number B-432, was a CH-47B helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 27 November 1967. 67-18462 accumulated 2,043.0 aircraft hours. The administrative strike date was 1 July 1972. In December 1967, 67-18462 was assigned to the New Cumberland Army Depot (NCAD), 1st Army, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for maintenance. In February 1968, 67-18462 was assigned to the 355th Aviation Company, 4th Army, located at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In March 1968, 67-18462 was assigned to the 178th Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Boxcars", in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). In January 1969, 67-18462 was assigned to the 271st ASHC - "Innkeepers", in the RVN. On 30 October 1969, 67-18462, at 1,137 airframe hours, while enroute and level at 500 feet and 100 knots, received ground fire from small arms and took one hit in the aft area, damaging the oil system. The helicopter continued flight and accomplished all mission objectives. The helicopter was repaired in theater. In November 1969, 67-18462 was assigned to the AMMC, in the RVN. In February 1970, 67-18462 was assigned to the 271st ASHC, in the RVN. On 18 March 1970, 67-18462, at 1,289.0 aircraft hours, while on an aircraft rescue and recovery mission, received ground fire from small arms. While the helicopter was on take-off at 600 feet and 55 knots, the aircraft took seven hits in the main rotor system and fuel system. The self-sealing tank developed a small leak. The helicopter continued flight and accomplished all mission objectives. The aircraft was repaired in theater. On 10 April 1970, 67-18462, at 1,398.0 aircraft hours, while on an aircraft rescue and recovery mission, received ground fire from small arms. On take-off at 1,300 feet and 60 knots, the helicopter took one hit in the forward area. The aircraft continued flight and accomplished all mission objectives. The aircraft was repaired in theater. On 12 May 1970, 67-18462, at 1,517.0 aircraft hours, while on a combat logistics support mission for re-supply, received ground fire from small arms. While enroute and descending at 1,000 feet and 80 knots, 67-18462 took one hit in the top of the aircraft. There was one person wounded in action. The aircraft diverted prior to accomplishing mission objectives. The helicopter was repaired in theater. On 19 August 1970, 67-18462, at 1,735.0 aircraft hours, was landing to a Landing Zone (LZ) when it received ground fire from small arms. While on approach to landing at 600 feet and 80 knots, 67-18462 received one hit in the passenger cargo section. One person was injured. The aircraft continued flight and accomplished all mission objectives. The aircraft was repaired in theater. On 20 August 1970, 67-18462, at 1,735 aircraft hours, while on a logistics support mission for re-supply, received ground fire from small arms. While in an LZ on take-off at 1,200 feet and 70 knots, 67-18462 took one hit in the passenger cargo section. The aircraft continued flight and accomplished all mission objectives. The aircraft was repaired in theater. On 9 June 1971, while on a combat re-supply mission, 67-18462 ran out of fuel and crashed. 67-18462 was working in support of field troops in the Ca Mau area. On the last sortie, a double load, the aircraft departed Ca Mau with less than 1,300 pounds of fuel. On a previous fuel check, hauling a single load the engines burned 800 pounds. Prior to reaching Drop Zone (DZ) the 20% low fuel warning light illuminated. The aircraft commander turned on the cross feed valve and continued the mission. Approaching Ca Mau, the aircraft commander failed to declare an emergency or inform the tower he had a low fuel state. This resulted in 67-18462 being number two behind a C-117. On final at 500 feet and 50 knots the engines quit due to fuel exhaustion. The aircraft commander entered autorotation and landed 150 meters short of the runway in a wet rice paddy between two dikes. After the blades quit striking the aircraft, the crew exited. The aircraft was badly damaged. The loss to the Army was $1,063,448.00. In July 1971, 67-18462 was assigned to the 166th Transportation Company (TC), in the RVN. In August 1971, 67-18462 was assigned to the Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM) Flight Detachment, 5th Army, headquarted in St. Louis, Missouri. In October 1971, 67-18462 was bailed to Bell Helicopter, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. In December 1971, 67-18462 was assigned to U.S. Army Aeronautical Depot Maintenance Center (ARADMAC), located in Corpus Christi, Texas. In January 1972, 67-18462 was assigned to NCAD. The last known location of 67-18462 was at the New Cumberland Army Depot, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Aircraft status: Unknown. |
