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89-00173, Boeing D model kit number M3327, was a CH-47D helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 25 October 1990. The administrative strike date was 10 October 1992. As of 10 October 1992, 89-00173 had accumulated 296.3 D model hours and 4,691.3 total aircraft hours. 89-00173 was a conversion from the original C model Chinook 67-18528. On 24 October 1989, 89-00173 was inducted into the D model program, converted, and initially assigned to B Company - "Sugar Bears", 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment, located at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Fort Wainwright was the former historic Ladd Field of World War Two era fame. B Company was the former C Company, 228th Aviation Regiment (16 October 1987 - 24 June 1994). C Company was the former 242nd Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Muleskinners" (located in Alaska from November 1971 through 16 October 1987). When United States involvement in the Vietnam conflict ended, 242nd ASHC was re-located from the Republic of Vietnam (RVN) to Alaska. The aviation unit in Alaska at the time was designated the 236th ASHC, 19th Aviation Battalion (April 1971 - November 1971). When the 242nd ASHC re-located to Alaska and re-formed, the unit name changed from "Muleskinners" to "Sugarbears" and the unit designation went from the 236th ASHC to the 242nd ASHC. At some point, the unit was split into two companies. One company remained in Alaska and became known as "Sugar Bears North". The other company, C Company, 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, was relocated to Fort Kobbe, Panama and became known as "Sugar Bears South". 89-00173 remained assigned to B Company, 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation Regiment, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, until it was lost due to an accident near Fort Richardson, Alaska on 10 October 1992. The cause of accident was suspected to be a fastener failure in the upper boost actuator. The fastener failed due to Hydrogen Embrittlement. During contour flight at 80 knots airspeed, the crew experienced a partial loss of aircraft control and the aircraft began spinning. The aircrew reported that the helicopter was spinning so fast that cargo loaded in the main cabin was being slung overboard off the ramp. Before the cargo could fall away from the aircraft the pilots could see it through the cockpit windows. The aircraft impacted in trees and came to rest in an upright attitude. The aircraft was destroyed but the occupants experienced only one minor disabling injury. The occupants were air evacuated to a medical facility for examination and were released for duty. At some point, in approximately 1996, what was left of 89-00173 was moved to the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS), located at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Crews, working in their spare time on weekends, managed to acquire sufficient spare parts and reassemble a portion of the airframe. As late as November 2003, 89-00173 was utilized as a maintenance trainer for the 67U course taught at EAATS. Even as a training device with half a fuselage and shortened rotor blades, the airframe continues to provide service to U.S. soldiers as they learn their trade as aircraft mechanics. As of November 2003, the last known location of 89-00173 was at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS), located at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Aircraft status: Partially repaired, not flyable. |
