Sikorsky S-65 H-53 accidents
List of helicopter accidentsYear | Version | C/N | |
---|---|---|---|
1967 | ch-53a | 65-076 | 153305 : HMH-461 w/o 23jun67 collision with UH-1B BuNo 63-8572 Jacksonville North Carolina. 22 fatalities |
1967 | ch-53a | 65-076 | 153305 : Sikorsky S-65A, c/n 65-076, ff:?; del USMC as CH-53A 153305, unk; w/o when collided with UH-1B, 63-8572, while attempting to land near Jacksonville, NC, 23Jun67. [22 of 35 onboard killed.] |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-014 | 151697 : w/o 24apr68 HMH-463 /YH |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-040 | 152413 : w/o 19may68 HMH-463 /YH |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-045 | 153276 : w/o 04mar68 HMH-463 /YH |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-047 | 153278 : w/o 19feb68 HMH-463 /YH |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-050 | 153281 : On May 1, 1968 SGT Donald R. Evans was a gunner on U.S. Marine Corps helicopter CH-53A tail number 153281 from the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 463 (HMH-463). At 2056 hours the aircraft crashed into the sea while attempting a carrier landing about 22 miles northwest of Tan Me. Four survivors from the helicopter were rescued about an hour later but the fifth crewman (SGT Evans) could not be found. A search was requested by USS Valley Forge (LPH8). His remains were later recovered. Sourced from vhpa.org. See more at vvmf.org |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-052 | 153283 : w/o 22feb68 HMH-463 /YH |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-053 | 153284 : w/o 28jul68 HMH-463 /YH |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-096 | 153710 : w/o 08jan68 HMH-463 /YH |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-110 | 153724 : w/o 14feb68 with NATC |
1968 | ch-53a | 65-138 | 154875 : Aircraft crashed on Toro Peak while installing communications equipment. 1 fatality 15 injuries. The crash site is still on Toro Peak (southern California north of San Diego) The largest pieces of the wreckage left is part of the tail section, main rotor gearbox and a section of the loading ramp. Lots of other smaller debris in the area as well. |
1969 | ch-53a | 65-021 | 152394 : w/o 01nov69 HMH-361 /YN crashed into South China Sea. 4 fatalities |
1969 | ch-53a | 65-049 | 153280 : w/o 04jul69 HMH-463 /YH |
1969 | ch-53a | 65-051 | 153282 : w/o 01sep69 HMH-361 /YN crashed in Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam. 5 fatalities |
1969 | ch-53a | 65-102 | 153716 : w/o 20mar69 with HMHT-301 |
1969 | ch-53a | 65-116 | 153730 : w/o 05may69 HMH-462 /YF- |
1969 | ch-53a | 65-124 | 153738 : asg HMH-462; w/o 09apr69 hit ammo crates with tail rotor at the ammo dump at LZ Vandergriff Vietnam setting the entire dump on fire |
1969 | HH-53B | 65-085 | 66-14430 : USAF; 40th ARRS w/o 18jan69 |
1969 | hh-53c | 65-145 | 67-14996 : USAF; 55th ARRS w/o 08oct69 |
1970 | ch-53a | 65-077 | 153306 : w/o 6may70 with HMH-363 |
1970 | ch-53d | 65-165 | 156661 : w/o 13sep70 HMH-463 /YH |
1970 | ch-53d | 65-169 | 156665 : w/o 14sep70 HMH-463 /YH |
1970 | ch-53d | 65-174 | 156670 : w/o 26oct70 HMH-463 /YH |
1970 | ch-53d | 65-179 | 156675 : w/o 8feb70 with HMH-362 |
1970 | HH-53B | 65-089 | 66-14434 : USAF; 40th ARRS w/o 28jan70 |
1970 | hh-53c | 65-146 | 68-8283 : USAF; 40th ARRS w/o 30jun70 |
1971 | CH-53C | 65-251 | 68-10922 : USAF; 1551st CCTW w/o 30nov71 hit ground during night |
1971 | CH-53C | 65-258 | 68-10929 : USAF; 21st SOS w/o 18feb71 |
1971 | CH-53C | 65-260 | 68-10931 : 01mar71 KNIFE 34 with Major Milton H. Ramsey, pilot, and Captain Tijerina, co-pilot, the CH-53C (# 68-10931) departed Nakhon Phanom RTAFB at 0830 to deliver Laotian troops to Lima Site 20 at Sam Thuong in northern Laos. "KNIFE 34" was hit by enemy fire while en route, knocking out one engine, but the crew was able to sustain flight until they reached LS20. "KNIFE 34" crashed on landing, spun right, rolled downhill, flipped and burst into flames. Major Milton Ramsey was a CH-53 pilot serving for the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB. Both Captain Tijerina and the pilot were killed in the crash. The flight engineers, SSgt G. Pearson and SSgt F. Deck, were able to escape the aircraft and were rescued. |
1971 | ch-53d | 65-164 | 156660 : w/o 25feb71 HMH-463 /YH |
1971 | ch-53d | 65-171 | 156667 : w/o 18feb71 HMH-463 /YH |
1971 | ch-53d | 65-249 | 157149 : w/o 21apr71 |
1971 | hh-53c | 65-148 | 68-8285 : w/o 21jul71, shot down in Laos |
1971 | hh-53c | 65-196 | 68-10366 : USAF; 37th ARRS w/o 25nov71 near DaNang Vietnam |
1971 | S-65C-3 | 65-236 | 133 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-236 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N6973R; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 133, Oct69; dived into sea off northern Sinai, near Yamit, 2 crew + 8 pax killed, w/o 08Jul71. |
1971 | S-65C-3 | 65-240 | 141 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-240 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N6977R; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 141, Jan70; crashed while catching UAV, parachute caught and damaged rotor, crew recovered; w/o 03Sep71. |
1972 | ch-53a | 65-100 | 153714 : w/o 29feb72 with HMH-363 |
1972 | ch-53d | 65-162 | 156658 : w/o 11jul72 with HMM-165 |
1972 | ch-53d | 65-247 | 157147 : w/o 13may72 crashed near Hue, South Vietnam while inserting S.Vietnam marines. Pilots were Capt fine ,Lt Furman, Corp Ken Gatewood, Corp Rick Buffington and myself Sarg P J Douglas. The a/c was destoryed by F-4 Phantoms after our e-vac |
1972 | ch-53d | 65-320 | 157744 : w/o 28jan72 with HMH-362 |
1972 | hh-53c | 65-189 | 68-10359 : USAF; 40th ARRS w/o 27mar72 Laos |
1972 | hh-53c | 65-191 | 68-10361 : USAF; 37th ARRS w/o 18aug72 at Danang, Vietnam during rocket attack |
1972 | hh-53c | 65-195 | 68-10365 : USAF; 37th ARRS w/o 06apr72 vietnam during Bat 21 rescue |
1972 | hh-53c | 65-267 | 69-5788 : w/o 27dec72 lost in Laos when its refueling probe was damaged by enemy ground fire and they could not air refuel. The helicopter was landed on a hill top as it was running out of fuel and abandoned. It was destroyed by A-7 bombing. |
1973 | ch-53a | 65-095 | 153709 : Crashed at Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River Md, spring of 1973, complete loss. Lost one soul, Crew Chief Marine Sgt Tom Henderson. Navy Pilot, Civilian Test Pilot and Army Crew Chief escaped with non life threatening injuries. |
1973 | ch-53a | 65-109 | 153723 : w/o 25feb73 HMH-772 |
1973 | ch-53a | 65-136 | 154873 : This a/c crashed a few days after Marine HMH-463 YH-11 went down in North Vietnam waters sweeping mines. Both crashes were a result of tail rotor pitch link failures. This crash resulted in all 53's being grounded and new more robust pitch links being installed. Neither crash caused fatalities |
1973 | ch-53d | 65-168 | 156664 : w/o 02jul73 HMH-463 /YH |
1973 | ch-53d | 65-279 | 157153 : Pat Boots at New River Air Station : |
1973 | ch-53d | 65-286 | 157160 : Yankee Hotel 11 was actually air borne dragging mine gear in the water to mine sweeping area when the tail rotor pitch link failed. I was the crew chief on this aircraft when she went down. I was by the ramp when the tail rotor separated and the aircraft began a left to right yaw increasing in degrees rapidly until the aircraft began rotating 360 degrees in a nose down larger 360 arc. One hell of a ride. Sgt. John J. Walsh |
1973 | ch-53d | 65-315 | 157739 : w/o 27jan73 HMH-462 /YF- |
1973 | hh-53c | 65-192 | 68-10362 : 40th ARRS w/o 14jun73 Cambodia |
1973 | S-65C-3 | 65-235 | 131 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-235 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N6972R; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 131, Oct69; shot down by Egyptian SAM, 5 crewman killed, 2 ejected 12Oct73. |
1973 | S-65C-3 | 65-345 | 249 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-345 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4004S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 249, Oct71; reserialled 949 unk; shot down by Egyptian AAA or SAM, 2 crew + 12 wounded soldiers killed 24Oct73. |
1974 | ch-53a | 65-027 | 152400 : w/o 26jul74 |
1974 | ch-53d | 65-200 | 156953 : w/o 30may74 HMH-463 /YH |
1974 | ch-53d | 65-297 | 157171 : w/o 19jul74 with HMM-162 |
1974 | S-65C-3 | 65-241 | 143 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-241 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N6978R; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 143, Jan70; collision on landing at Mahanayim landing strip, crew + 6 psgs killed, 19Apr74. |
1975 | ch-53a | 65-065 | 153296 : w/o 08jan75 crashed in Maryland |
1975 | ch-53a | 65-108 | 153722 : w/o 18feb75 with HMT-301 |
1975 | CH-53C | 65-254 | 68-10925 : USAF; 21st SOS w/o 15may75 during Mayaguez rescue. 2Lt Richard Vandegeer was killed and was the last name inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall at Washington |
1975 | CH-53C | 65-255 | 68-10926 : USAF; 21st SOS w/o 15may75 during Mayaguez rescue |
1975 | CH-53C | 65-262 | 68-10933 : USAF; 21st SOS w/o 13may75 Udorn, Thailand |
1975 | CH-53C | 65-337 | 70-1627 : USAF; 21st SOS w/o 15may75 during Mayaguez rescue |
1975 | CH-53C | 65-338 | 70-1628 : USAF; 21st SOS w/o 24jan75 |
1975 | CH-53C | 65-342 | 70-1632 : USAF; 601 TASS w/o 26sep75 Paderborn, Germany |
1975 | ch-53d | 65-205 | 156958 : w/o 8jan75 with HMH-362 |
1975 | ch-53d | 65-313 | 157737 : w/o 7feb75 with HMM-264 |
1976 | ch-53a | 65-020 | 152393 : Non fatal, hulk was still out in the trees at NAS Willow Grove in 81 |
1976 | ch-53a | 65-084 | 153313 : w/o 26jul76 HMH-361 |
1976 | CH-53C | 65-256 | 68-10927 : w/o at Sembach Germany, asg 601st TASS. 4 fatalities |
1976 | ch-53d | 65-319 | 157743 : Crashed 6 miles west of Naha Okinawa over the water. Pilot ran out of fuel and auto rotated to 50 feet above the water fell the rest of the way to the ocean. 4 souls on board. No survivors. Sgt. John Christian Crew Chief. |
1977 | ch-53a | 65-057 | 153288 : w/o 10mar77 HMH-361 /YN-21 unk |
1977 | ch-53a | 65-122 | 153736 : w/o 28dec77 HMH-361 /YN to be confirmed |
1977 | ch-53d | 65-203 | 156956 : Five Marines were killed. There was one fatality on the second aircraft the Crew Chief was killed by the Fire Bottle above the Crew Chief's seat. I guarded his aircraft until we were relieved, he was my room mate. |
1977 | ch-53d | 65-204 | 156957 : w/o 8dec77 with HMM-261 |
1977 | ch-53d | 65-232 | 157139 : I was with lsu foxtrot 3/4 it was fully loaded internally and lifting an external load. cable snapped up into the rotor blades. Myself and others were sent to recover the bodies. I still have nightmares. L/cpl P.H.Robinson H |
1977 | ch-53d | 65-293 | 157167 : Pilots of the second aircraft survived. Everyone in the lead aircraft perished. I was in HMH-461 but deployed to the Med when it happened. |
1977 | hh-53c | 65-198 | 68-10368 : USAF; 67 ARRS w/o 24jun77 Woodbridge Air base UK; cockpit used for training at AFB Kirtland, Albuquerque New Mexico |
1977 | S-65C-3 | 65-351 | 960 : reserialled 960 unk; flew into hill on West Bank, 54 killed, 10May77. |
1977 | S-65C-3 | 65-394 | 532 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-394 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4008S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 532, May75; suffered main rotor loss, crew killed, w/o 17May77. |
1977 | S-65C-3 | 65-407 | 558 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-407, ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4051S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 558, Oct75; crashed, crew killed 20Nov77. |
1978 | ch-53a | 65-067 | 153297 : w/o 2aug78 |
1978 | ch-53d | 65-287 | 157161 : w/o 6mar78 with HMT-204 |
1978 | ch-53d | 65-311 | 157735 : w/o 20mar78 with HMM-264 |
1979 | ch-53d | 65-209 | 156962 : w/o 15oct79 with HMM-264 |
1979 | ch-53d | 65-213 | 156966 : w/o 15dec79 with HMT-204 |
1979 | ch-53d | 65-306 | 157730 : w/o 2aug79 |
1979 | hh-53c | 65-266 | 69-5787 : This is bs. the Major flying was in upgrade training to Flight Evaluator. The accident occured and the aircraft subswquently crashed. I was the one who survived the accident. |
1979 | S-65C-3 | 65-395 | 534 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-395 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4009S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 534, May75; crashed, crew killed, 16Jul79. |
1980 | ch-53d | 65-183 | 156952 : w/o 18may80 HMH-463 /YH |
1980 | ch-53d | 65-288 | 157162 : w/o 30may80 with HMM-263 Det 1 |
1980 | hh-53c | 65-265 | 69-5786 : 69-5786 was lost in a crash shortly after leaving Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah while performing Desert training operations;
I was flying in another H-53 alongside 5786 when it went down. ❤️ |
1980 | RH-53D | 65-359 | 158686 : USN HM-16; w/o 24apr80 during rescue attempt Operation Eagle Claw |
1980 | RH-53D | 65-366 | 158693 : Apr80 as Dash -4 at Desert One for Operation Eagle Claw |
1980 | RH-53D | 65-367 | 158744 : USN HM-16; w/o 24apr80 during rescue attempt Operation Eagle Claw |
1980 | RH-53D | 65-373 | 158750 : USN; HM-16 w/o 24apr80 during rescue attempt Operation Eagle Claw |
1980 | RH-53D | 65-376 | 158753 : Final call sign was Bluebird 2 on Iranian rescue attempt. Last crew was: Maj Dehoust (USMC), Capt McGuire (USMC), SSgt Lewis (USMC), Sgt Harold (USMC), and AT2 Husman (USN). Lost 2nd stage hydraulic system enroute to Desert 1. Helicopter was destroyed by Iranians at Desert One |
1980 | RH-53D | 65-381 | 158758 : USN HM-16; w/o 24apr80 during rescue attempt Operation Eagle Claw |
1980 | RH-53D | 65-384 | 158761 : USN; HM-16 w/o 24apr80 during rescue attempt Operation Eagle Claw |
1981 | ch-53a | 65-105 | 153719 : During CQ hit another Squadron helicopter chained down on deck but running |
1981 | ch-53a | 65-113 | 153727 : w/o 10feb81 HMH-462 /YF- |
1981 | ch-53d | 65-307 | 157731 : w/o 17sep81 with HMM-263 |
1981 | HH-53B | 65-090 | 66-14435 : 435 actually went down in late morning; aircraft Commander was Capt James P. Gang. The A/C had a crew of 4, plus a flight examiner, Capt. Randy Jensen and the crew chief, Sgt Michael Hoon on board. Capt Jensen and Sgt Hoon survived the crash but died from burns received. |
1982 | ch-53a | 65-033 | 152406 : AMARG;
2001 still |
1982 | ch-53a | 65-083 | 153312 : w/o 14sep82 crashed into North Sea off Denmark during NATO exercise Northern Wedding. 5 fatalities |
1982 | hh-53c | 65-271 | 69-5792 : USAF; 1551st CCTW w/o 27jul82 New Mexico during night aerial refueling training |
1983 | ch-53d | 65-277 | 157151 : w/o with HMH-461 |
1983 | ch-53d | 65-278 | 157152 : w/o 28mar83 with HMH-362 |
1984 | ch-53d | 65-225 | 157132 : One of the Best Aircrews in the Corps, Lost in Bad Weather using NVG's |
1984 | hh-53c | 65-385 | 73-1647 : USAF; conv HH-53H; 1st SOW w/o 17oct84 near Clark AFB, Philippines |
1984 | hh-53c | 65-388 | 73-1650 : Acft completed the low-level and was climbing to the AR track. The acft behind advsd they had pieces coming off around the TR. Suddenly the entire TR and gear box separated from the pylon. Crew shut the engines down and autorotated into a field. Acft landed hard and was not repairable BUT everybody walked away from the wreck. Cause of the mishap was failure of the TGB pylon mount lugs due to corrosion. |
1984 | S-65C-3 | 65-353 | 964 : reserialled 964 unk; collision with a mountain while trying to land near Maale Adumin (one killed), 27Aug84. |
1985 | ch-53d | 65-231 | 157138 : 17 Marines died, 11 from HMH-462, 15 miles south of Yakushima, Japan. Main rotor gearbox failed, ceased mid-air while trying to set a/c in the water due to the mechanical failure emergency |
1985 | hh-53c | 65-185 | 68-10355 : MRB BIM caution light came on enroute to ship. When acft entered a hover over ship, the MRB failed and part of it separated. The ensuing severe out of balance condition caused the acft to shake itself apart and it crashed on the ship. This acft had the old aluminum spar MRBs. Back then you could continue flight with airspeed/time restrictions when a BIM light came on. |
1985 | S-65C-3 | 65-344 | 247 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-344 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4003S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 247, Jul71; w/o 13Jun85. |
1986 | hh-53c | 65-184 | 68-10354 : Settled with power and landed hard (crashed) into the LZ. Remained upright with engines and rotors still running. Crew abandoned acft then a post-crash fire broke out and acft burned to the ground. |
1986 | hh-53c | 65-389 | 73-1651 : crash date 21may86 |
1987 | ch-53d | 65-280 | 157154 : w/o 22jan87 HMH-462 /YF; 24mar95 on El Mirage Field, CA scrapyard, only tail |
1988 | ch-53d | 65-289 | 157163 : Aircraft crashed on Shikoku Island, Japan (about 25 miles south of MCAS Iwakuni) on 25 June 1988 with seven fatalities |
1988 | S-65C-3 | 65-343 | 245 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-343 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4001S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 245, Jul71; reserialled 545 unk; w/o 29Dec88, heavy cargo lift problems while en route to Mount Sagi, pilot killed, other crew recovered. |
1989 | ch-53d | 65-233 | 157140 : USMC; HMH-363 w/o 20mar89 at Pohang, South Korea. 19 fatalities, 15 survivors |
1990 | S-65C-3 | 65-349 | 355 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-349 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4024S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 355, Nov72; w/o 22Apr90, Mid-air collision during a training exercise near Maale Ephraim and Mavo Shilo, 2 crew (inc. flight mechanic) killed, tot 7 killed in crash. (upgraded to Yasur 2000 055 Nov99)? |
1990 | S-65C-3 | 65-354 | 367 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-354 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4029S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 367, Dec73; reserialled 967 unk; w/o 05Jun90. |
1991 | RH-53D | 65-364 | 158691 : crashed in mountains during a routine training flight one year after I retired from HM-19...I was part of this BUNOs crew! |
1991 | RH-53D | 65-370 | 158747 : w/o 12apr91 HM-18 /NW-605 |
1992 | RH-53D | 65-360 | 158687 : pictured (pic1) as HM-16 /GC-631 onboard USS Inchon. Written-off 9 years later with 7 souls lost. |
1992 | S-65C-3 | 65-403 | 350 : Reserialled 350 unk; w/o 05Jan92. |
1995 | CH-53C | 65-261 | 68-10932 : 13-14 July at Fairford |
1996 | S-65C-2 | 65-224 | 066 : S-65C-2, c/n 65-224, ff?; del Austrian Air Force as S-65Oe 5L-MB Sep 1971; asgd 2 Staffel, HubSchrauberGeswader 3; sold to Israeli Air Force as 666 15May81; upgraded to Yasur 2000 066 unk; crashed soon after take-off in the Judean desert, 2 crew + 5 pax killed, 31Mar96. |
1997 | ch-53a | 65-119 | 903 : ex 403 |
1997 | S-65C-3 | 65-350 | 357 : Sikorsky S-65C-3, c/n 65-350 ff?; retained by Sikorsky for testing as N4025S; del IDF/AF as S-65C Yasur 357, Nov72; w/o 04Feb97, suffered mid-air collision with CH-53A 2000 #903 in darkness at the remote Shear Yeshuv kibbutz in the Galilee panhandle, 3 crew + 34 pax killed. |
1999 | ch-53d | 65-220 | 157129 : w/o 23jun99, HMH-366 /HH |
2001 | hh-53c | 65-270 | 69-5791 : USAF; conv to HH-53H; conv to MH-53M; 20th SOS w/o 02nov01 Afghanistan |
2002 | hh-53c | 65-149 | 68-8286 : USAF; conv to MH-53M; 20th SOS; w/o 18mar02 Afghanistan |
2003 | CH-53C | 65-335 | 70-1625 : 20th SOS w/o at Bagram, Afghanistan |
2003 | hh-53c | 65-142 | 67-14993 : USAF; conv to MH-53M; 20th SOS w/o 19mar03 |
2004 | ch-53d | 65-318 | 157742 : crashed in Okinawa university after clipping building |
2004 | hh-53c | 65-276 | 69-5797 : conv to MH-53M; 20th SOS w/o 13apr04 hit by RPG at Zawbaa, Iraq |
2006 | ch-53d | 65-246 | 157146 : w/o 07sep06 HMH-463 /YH-24 |
2006 | S-65C-3 | 65-347 | 053 : upgraded to Yasur 2000 as 053, 1997; w/o 12Aug06 when hit by anti-tank missile in Southern Lebanon, crew of 5 killed, including female crew chief. |
2007 | hh-53c | 65-273 | 69-5794 : 20th SOS w/o emergency landing during NVG training at Eglin AFB, 2 injured. 2008 str AMARC |
2012 | ch-53d | 65-228 | 157135 : w/o 21jun12 crashed inside the Sarabagh military base, Khost City, Afghanistan |
2012 | ch-53d | 65-300 | 157174 : HMH-363 w/o 19 Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 6 fatalities |
2019 | S-65C-3 | 65-399 | 042 : CH-53 fleet grounded after accident |
146 C/N found.