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| 68-15993 |
213th Assault Support Helicopter Company "Black Cats" Republic of Vietnam 1970 through 1972. |
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180th Assault Support Helicopter Company "Big Windy" Schwabisch Hall, West Germany (FRG) 1 October 1974 through 25 February 1980. |
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| 68-15993, Boeing build number B-585, was a CH-47C helicopter. The U.S. Army acceptance date was 21 May 1969. The administrative strike date was 25 February 1980. 68-15993 accumulated approximately 2,135.0 aircraft hours. In May 1969, 68-15993 was at the New Cumberland Army Depot (NCAD), near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In November 1969, 68-15993 was assigned to the 79th Transportation Company in the Republic of Vietnam (RVN). In December 1969, 68-15993 was assigned to the 330th Transportation Company, in the RVN. In May 1970, 68-15993 was assigned to the 213th Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Black Cats", in the RVN. In March 1972, 68-15993 was en route to the Continental United States (CONUS). In July 1972, 68-15993 was assigned to (ARADMAC), Corpus Christi, Texas. In August 1972, 68-15993 was assigned to NCAD. In October 1974, 68-15993 was assigned to the 180th Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC) - "Big Windy", 11th Aviation Group, United States Army Europe (USAREUR), located at Schwabisch Hall in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) (West Germany). On 6 September 1977, 68-15993 was involved in a Class E accident. While in the vicinity of Augsburg, cruising at 200 feet above ground level (AGL) and at 130 knots, pilots felt lateral vibrations that continued to increase in intensity. The aircraft was landed and shut down for inspection. The forward rotor head was too hot to touch. The horizontal hinge pin bearing on yellow blade had failed. The horizontal hinge pin and bearing on forward rotor head overheated. On 23 September 1977, 68-15993 was involved in a Class C accident. While in the vicinity of Augsburg, and after landing and rolling an internal load off the aircraft, the pilot attempted to taxi the aircraft forward, upslope, to clear the load from the ramp. The aircraft came to a low hover and the ramp extensions were driven into the sod forcing floor of ramp upward and ripping the ramp at the ramp hinge point. On 25 February 1980 was lost due to an accident near Schwabisch Hall. 68-15993 was on a maintenance test flight for installation of the number one engine. At approximately 500 feet, while conducting the turbine engine analysis check (TEAC), the combining transmission phasing mechanism decoupled, resulting in rotor system meshing. The forward and aft transmissions, and rotor systems separated in flight. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a pine forest and was totally destroyed. All 5 occupants sustained fatal injuries during the impact. The last known location of 68-15993 was in the Federal Republic of Germany. Aircraft status: Crashed. |
| Fatalities |
| CW3 Randall G. Davis, Maintenance Test Pilot (MTP), born 13 November 1949 in Goldthwaite, Texas. |
| CW3 Gary L. McKelvy, Copilot (CP), born 7 July 1948 in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. McKelvy was buried at Arlington National Cemetary. |
| SGT Rick A. Barrett, Flight Engineer (FE), born 17 April 1952 in Denver, Colorado. |
| SP4 Sean W. Dorsey, Crew Chief (CE), born 4 March 1958 in Wenatchee, Washington. |
| SP4 Malcolm R. Webb, Engine Repairman, born 11 April 1958 in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| This aircraft was piloted by: |
| CW3 Randall Gene Davis, MP, 1980. |
| CW3 Gary L. McKelvy, CP, 1980. |
| Your Name Here. |
| This aircraft was crewed by: |
| SGT Rick A. Barrett, FE, 1980. |
| SP4 Sean W. Dorsey, CE, 1980. |
| SP4 Malcolm R. Webb, OR, 1980. |
| Your Name Here. |
| Weight and Balance Records |
| View the last set of Weight and Balance Records (DD Form 365 Series) for CH-47C Chinook helicopter 68-15993. These records, produced from the last surviving original set, are the best available due to their age and condition. Click-N- Go Here [18.6 Mb]. |
| Anybody have a grid coordinate of the crash site? Please send us an email. |
| Related Sites |
| Final Decents |
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