Helicopter Accidents Sikorsky S-65 H-53

Sikorsky S-65 H-53 accidents

List of helicopter accidents

Year	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.