U.S. Army Bell UH-1D Iroquios (Huey) # 66-952, crashed in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson, AZ, on April 26, 1967.

Summary: The Huey departed Libby Army Airfield at Fort Huachuca at 10:20 am with a three crew and seven passengers for a training flight through the peaks of the Santa Rita Mountains in support of Project Cloud Gap. The helicopter landed at two mountain instection sites and after a brief period, departed for the third. Given there was sufficient wind drafts in the canyons, the occupants were told to check that their seat belts were secure. Subsequently, the pilots conducted a "go, or no-go" power check which indicated there was sufficient power to accomplish the third landing on the mountain peak. Once they reached the peak, they made two 360 degree turns over the landing area to determine the wind direction. At 150 feet above the landing site, the instructor pilot alerted the pilot that the rotor had dropped to 6400 RPM and directed another go-around. The pilot iniated the go-around and applied power, yet the aircraft continied to descend and lose RPM power. At 20 feet above the ground the helicopter suddenly turned to the right, despite the pilots applying full left pedal. As the helicopter settled down, the rotor blades hit a a rock outcropping next to the intended landing area. The helicopter pitched up and fell down the side of the mountain where it rolled seven times before coming to rest far below the saddle, killing three men. 


Looking down from the ridge where the helicopter crashed below. The first part of wreckage was this tip of the rotar blade. The final impact area where the helicopter burned. The Lycoming engine date plate; "Engine Turbine Aircraft" Model Number T53-L-11B, accepted in August 1966.

 

Miscelaneous gear and debris. Burn area. Burn area. Burn area.

 

Debris and seat belt harness. Gears and avionics. The ADF receiver. Safety belt harness and buckles.

 

Instrument face. Gears, conduit and debris. "Lock" for some component. Aluminum and steel support members.

 

The pitot tube. "Air Mixing Valve" data plate. One of the helicopter's ashtrays. A navigation light.

 

Instrument face cover. A data plate indicating 'Forward' and degrees. Perhaps a pitch indicator with the rotor blades? It is about 10 inces long. Overview of the hillside.

 

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