Helicopter Accidents

US Navy accidents

Kaman Seasprite Accidents

Year	Version	C/N
1962	UH-2A	62	149760 : reported to have crashed in the woods during 1964
1963	UH-2A	23	149019 : Reported to have crashed at sea during 1963. recovered
1963	UH-2A	24	149020 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 24, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149020 unk; redesig UH-2A Oct62; xfer HU-2, HU-??, unk; w/o 05Aug63.
1963	UH-2A	38	149034 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 38, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149034 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-2, Det 62, HU-??, unk; asgd USS Independence, (CVA-62) unk; w/o 17Jul63.
1963	UH-2A	7	147974 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 7, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 147974 unk; redesig UH-2A Oct 1962; w/o 26Jul63.
1963	UH-2A	78	149776 : w/o 17sep63, I was with HU-1/HC-1, UH-2A 149776 was lost due to power failure while being flown in the dead mans curve to avoid corrosive spray. The flotation bag failed on the starboard side from the hard landing and rolled over and sank.
1963	UH-2A	79	149777 : If I am not mistaken this went down on 28Jan63 and pilot LT(jg) Robert A Short was the only casualty
1963	UH-2A	86	149784 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 86, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149784 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-2, HU-??, unk; w/o 18Apr63.
1963	UH-2A	9	147976 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 9, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 147976 unk; redesig UH-2A Oct 1962; xfer HU-1, UP-??, unk; asgd USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) unk; ditched at sea 12Sep63, 4 crew successfully recovered; aircraft capsized but remained afloat & recoverd by BHR same day; w/o 30Oct63.
1963	UH-2B	97	150147 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite c/n 97, ff?; del USN as UH-2B 150147 unk; redesig UH-2B in 1962; xfer HU-1, UP-??, unk; w/o 29Oct63.
1964	UH-2A	22	149018 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 22, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149018 unk; redesig UH-2A Oct 1962; xfer HU-2, Det 1, HU-??, unk; w/o 01Jul64.
1964	UH-2A	29	149025 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 29, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149025 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-1, Det 1, UP-??, unk; w/o 06Oct64.
1964	UH-2A	31	149027 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 31, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149027 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-2, Det 65, HU-??, unk; w/o 20Aug64; (One source says redesig SH-2F, unk; noted as HSL-31, TD-17, 1979.)
1964	UH-2A	33	149029 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 33, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149029 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-2, HU-??, unk; w/o 23Jul64.
1964	UH-2A	42	149740 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 42, ff?; del USN as HU2K-1 149740 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; unit xfers unk; wfu & soc by 1964.
1964	UH-2A	48	149746 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 48, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149746 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-2, Det 60, HU-??, unk; asgd HU-2 abd USS Saratoga (CVA-60) unk; w/o 19Oct64.
1964	UH-2A	51	149749 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 51, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149749 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-2, Det 65, HU-??, unk; asgd USS Enterprise (CVN-65) unk; w/o 14Apr64.
1964	UH-2A	56	149754 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 56, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149754 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-2, Det 62, HU-??, unk; asgd USS Independence (CVA-62) unk; w/o 16Feb64.
1964	UH-2A	65	149763 : Crashed into the Tyrennian Sea. pilots D.G. Hartman and Bob Murphy
1964	UH-2A	84	149782 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 84, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149782 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-1, Det R, UP-??, unk; w/o 17Sep64.
1964	UH-2A	88	149786 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 88, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149786 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-1, Det R, UP-??, unk; w/o 09Aug64.
1964	UH-2B	130	150180 : redesig UH-2B in 1962; xfer MCAS SO&ES Cherry Point, 13Mar64, suffered damage 15Aug64; SOC 31Aug64.
1964	UH-2B	95	150145 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite c/n 95x, ff?; del USN as UH-2B 150145 unk; redesig UH-2B in 1962; xfer NAS Point Mugu, CA, unk; w/o 02Sep64.
1965	UH-2A	15	147982 : sunday 16may65 20:45 crashed at sea Lat. 17* 33.2' N Long. 65* 20.8' W ( 32m W US Virgin Islands) and sank in 950 fathoms; Lt(Jg) R.K. Melcher (Sic), USNR, P (Survived, w/injuries); Lt(Jg) S.R. Kruk, USNR, CP (Survived, w/injuries); AMS2 Charles Arthur Woolwine, USN, AC (Missing); AE2 J.K. Sloan, USN, AC (Missing) ; Ref. USS Independence Deck Log, May 1965
1965	UH-2A	54	149752 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 54, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149752 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HU-1, UP-??, unk; w/o 17May65.
1966	UH-2A	18	149014 : Apr66, lost on Maintenance test hop in the Bay at Istanbul (BOSPORUS AREA). Helo was raised, inspected and sunk at sea shortly after departing Istanbul
1966	UH-2A	53	149751 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 53, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149751 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HC-1, UP-??, unk; xfer HC-1, Det L, USS Hancock (CVA-19), unk; w/o 10Jan66 when crashed at sea following engine failure; four crew recovered.
1966	UH-2A	59	149757 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 59, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149757 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HC-2, HU-??, unk; xfer HC-2, Det 11, USS Intrepid (CVS-11), unk; w/o 19Jun66 when flew into water after night launch; one crew recovered, three crew KIA.
1966	UH-2A	76	149774 : known UH-2A type asg HC-7
1966	UH-2B	112	150162 : w/o 15apr66 Tail rotor failure, total loss
1966	UH-2B	133	150183 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 133, ff?; del USN as HU2K-1U 150183 unk; redesig UH-2B in 1962; xfer HC-1, Det G, UP-??, unk; asgd USS Oriskany (CVA-34) unk; w/o during Oriskany fire, 22Oct66.
1966	UH-2B	178	152194 : w/o 04sep66, I was assigned to HC-2 Det 60, ditched during a vertrep in the Mediterranean Sea. 5 survivors: 4 crew 1 pass . I was the wet crewman
1966	UH-2B	179	152195 : w/o lost during transfer of papers over destroyer. Lost rotor speed and went into spin. Crashed nose first rolled to stbd. 4 crew, one passenger egressed safely. All recovered. Picked up by HH-46 from HC-6 Mediterranean Sea.
1966	UH-2B	180	152196 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 180, ff?; del USN as HU2K-1U 158196 unk; redesig UH-2B in 1962; xfer HC-1, Det G, UP-??, unk; asgd USS Oriskany (CVA-34) unk; w/o 16Sep66 when the engine flamed out when hit by wave while picking up survivors, three crew recovered .
1967	UH-2A	16	147983 : w/o 14Jun67 UH-2A type asg HC-2 Det.11 /HU-03 op loss
1967	UH-2A	41	149739 : 1966-67 UH-2A type asg HC-1 Det.E /UP-17 CV-14 USS Ticonderoga
1967	UH-2A	43	149741 : 1967-68 UH-2C type asg HC-1 Det.61
1967	UH-2A	64	149762 : That was a Charlie model H-2 w/aux tanks
1967	UH-2A	83	149781 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 83, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149781 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer HC-2, Det 59, HU-??, unk; asgd USS Forrestal (CVA-59) unk; w/o 29Jul67.
1967	UH-2A	85	149783 : 1965 UH-2A type asg HC-1 Det.G CVA-34 USS Oriskany
1967	UH-2A	87	149785 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 87, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149785 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer US Army as UH-2A Tomahawk; redesig YUH-2A 1963; rtnd US Navy unk; redesig UH-2C unk; xfer HC-2, Det 38, HU-??, unk; asgd USS Shangri-La (CVA-38), unk; w/o 04Jan67.
1967	UH-2B	103	150153 : w/o 04oct67 UH-2B type asg HC-7
1967	UH-2B	154	151317 : 1967 UH-2B type asg HC-1 Det.31 /UP-42
1968	UH-2A	12	147979 : Danang Harbor
1968	UH-2A	45	149743 : Helo assisting departing detachment from HC-7 Det Cubi. Loaded with 10,000 rounds ammo, hyd jenny, 120 deg deck temp, lost ground cushion, crashed at edge of bay. 3 died, 1 survivor
1968	UH-2B	152	151315 : UH-2B type in HC-7
1968	UH-2B	168	151331 : w/o 19jan68 asg HC-7
1968	UH-2B	181	152197 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 181, ff?; del USN as HU2K-1U 152197 unk; redesig UH-2B in 1962; xfer HC-1 Det 14, /UP-52, asgd USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14) unk; w/o 15Feb68 when helo experienced loss of power and crashed into the sea, four crew members recovered.
1969	UH-2A	61	149759 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 61, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149759 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; xfer NAS Jacksonville, FL, unk; w/o 03Mar69.
1969	UH-2A	66	149764 : known HC-7 /VH-14
1969	UH-2A	69	149767 : 10aug69, UH-2C type with HC-1 Det31 on USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31). I was on my 3rd flight of the day in this helo and we had just trapped the last jet for this session and our pilot decided to do an auto-rotation from 3,000 feet. When we pulled out there was a series of violent jerks and the next thing we knew we were going into the water upside down. When we hit water we were on our side for several seconds, deployed the airbags, but the helo sank fast. All four crew were safe, a destroyer picked us up and we were returned to the carrier by another UH-2C. Our flight crew consisted of Lt Bill Bentley, co-pilot LTJG John Lovell, myself (AN Dave Wiczek) and ADJ-2 Jerry Vanlandingham who sustained injuries of a broken collar bone and a broken arm. a/c sank to the bottom of the Tonkin Gulf and to my knowledge was never seen again
1969	UH-2B	94	150144 : 1967 UH-2B asg HC-2 Det.60 as /HU-26
1970	UH-2A	58	149756 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 58, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149756 unk; redesig UH-2A in 1962; noted HC-4, 55, ~1969; conv HH-2C unk; xfer NAF China Lake, RDT&E, 01Apr70; xfer HC-5, TD-??, unk; xfer HSL-31, TD-??, unk; w/o 11May70.
1972	UH-2A	44	149742 : 1967-68 UH-2A type asg HC-2 Det.42 as /HU-21
1972	UH-2B	122	150172 : SH-2D type; HSL-30 /HT-unk, w/o 28aug72
1972	UH-2B	132	150182 : w/o lost in the Mediterranean Sea due to a tail rotor drive shaft failure. All four crewmen survived without injury. I was HAC
1973	UH-2A	20	149016 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 20, ff?; del USN as UH2K-1, 149016 unk; redesig UH-2A Oct 1962; redesig HH-2D, 1970; asgd NAS Oceana, VA, unk; w/o 14Aug73.
1973	UH-2B	177	152193 : Kaman K-20 Seasprite, c/n 177, ff?; del USN as HU2K-1U 152193 unk; redesig UH-2B in 1962; unit xfers unk; redesig SH-2D unk; xfer HSL-32, HV-xxx, asgd USS Guam (LPH-7), unk; w/o 01Nov73 when crashed on pier 5 btwn USS Guam (LPH-7) & USS Forrestal (CVA-59) at Norfolk Naval Station.
1973	UH-2B	182	152198 : w/o Mar73 lost power on one engine shortly after takeoff from the USS Sterett (DLG-31) between Guam and the Philippines. The aircraft impacted the water, rolled over and sank. All three crewmembers egressed safely and survived. It was an SH-2D and was on HSL-31 Det-1 at the time of the accident
1974	UH-2A	77	149775 : 1970/71 as UH-2C type HC-1 Det.2 /UP-006 on CVA-63 USS Kitty Hawk
1975	UH-2A	47	149745 : w/o 19jun75 SH-2F type as HSL-34 DET-3 /HX-34 USS Aylwin (FF-1081) crashed 6 miles south of Newport RI in sight of the swiming beaches. HAC and AW-2 died. the H2P and pax survived
1976	UH-2B	163	151326 : 10dic80 pictured as HSL-33 /HF-10 after crashed in San Diego Harbor
1977	UH-2A	19	149015 : Crashed during nite approach to NAS Lemoore due to P/E. Damaged beyond economical repair.
1977	UH-2A	67	149765 : SH-2F Helicopter /JA-31 was assigned to VX-1 at NAS Patuxent River, MD and crashed on its final approach to the base killing all 3 aboard. The pilot was LT. Steven Howdershell, Copilot LT Richard Creighton and Air Crewman AW 2 Robert Emery. They were all great friends and I still think of them some 40 years later. See Memorial Site
1977	UH-2B	92	150142 : w/o 11Mar77 crashed at sea during nite approach to USS Worden (CG-18) near Wake Island
1979	UH-2A	32	149028 : UH-2A type gear up landing in Thailand with HC-7
1979	UH-2A	57	149755 : 1968/70 UH-2C type HC-1
1980	UH-2A	37	149033 : HH-2C type as HC-7 /VH-20
1982	UH-2A	36	149032 : w/o 25mar82 lost at sea off of Martha s Vineyard area HSL-32 Det 4 on board USS Donald B Beary (FF-1085), all 3 crew members survived
1982	UH-2A	39	149035 : 1967-68 UH-2A type as HC-2 /HU-18 on CVA-38 USS Shangri-La
1982	UH-2B	165	151328 : SH-2F w/o 07sep82
1982	UH-2B	89	150139 : 1968/70 UH-2C type HC-1
1983	UH-2A	73	149771 : Nov75-Oct77 as HSL-36 /04 Det5 cruised Caribbean and Mid-East on USS Bowen (FF 1079)
1984	UH-2A	46	149744 : w/o 17aug84, crash at sea detatched to the USS Voge (FF-1047) from HSL-32 Det4, co-pilot lost at sea
1984	UH-2A	71	149769 : Sep82 pictured as HSL-34 /HX-234 during Unitas XXI
1984	UH-2B	116	150166 : redesig UH-2B in 1962; xfer MCAS SO&ES Cherry Point, 06Jan64; xfer MCAS Beaufort, 17Aug65;
1984	UH-2B	137	151300 : conv SH-2F. HSL-30 det.A HT-044 w/o 30jul84
1985	SH-2F	199	161649 : w/o 21jan85
1986	SH-2F	226	161915 : HSL-36 crashed at sea in 1986
1986	UH-2B	117	150167 : asg HSL-34 w/o crashed while deployed on the USS Fahrion
1986	UH-2B	98	150148 : late 1960s seen in a cruse book as UH-2C HC-1 Det.43
1987	SH-2F	204	161654 : HSL-32 /HV-142, w/o 11jan87
1987	SH-2F	230	162579 : w/o 16sep87 HSL-34 /HX lost in north atlantic
1988	SH-2F	196	161646 : w/o 30mar88
1988	SH-2F	201	161651 : Lost off USS Barbey (FF-1088) Pilot, Co-Pilot, Crewman lost at sea Gulf of Oman
1988	SH-2F	214	161903 : The crew survived the fall into the sea soon after launch. Mechanical failure
1988	SH-2F	221	161910 : I was a mech in the squadron at the time aircraft crashed 10aug88, Reference
1989	SH-2F	198	161648 : w/o 03mar89 in Virginia
1989	SH-2F	237	162586 : US Navy; 1988 SH-2F type HSL-36./HY-341
1990	UH-2B	100	150150 : Mar/Jul 1985 as HSL-37 Det.10 /TH-54 onboard USS Hepburn (FE-1055)
1993	SH-2G	247	163211 : Crashed because of a gearbox failure. All three aircrew lost; Lyle Hansemann, Daryl W. Nelson and Kelly Aldritt.
1993	UH-2A	72	149770 : US Navy; 1988 SH-2F type HSL-36./HY-340