Helicopter Accidents

Year 1981 accidents

Year	Version	C/N
1981	206a	255	PT-HBY : Bell 206A cn255, ff:?; del Brazil as PT-HBY, unk; w/o 12Jul81.
1981	206a	270	N4717R : Bell 206A cn270, ff:?; reg Bell Helicopters as N4717R, unk; xfer US as N4717R, unk; conv Bell 206B-2, unk; w/o Fruitland, UT, 03Dec81
1981	212	30705	N392EH : ERA Helicopters Jun75-Mar91; w/o 23aug81 at Kenai, AK
1981	212	31116	FAP-687 : FAP d/d 1979; w/o 21feb81
1981	212	31120	PT-HKW : Lider Taxi Aereo; ex N57485; w/o 22jul81 at Macae/RJ
1981	369hm	51-0208M	H-208 : RDAF Esk724; d/d 07sep71; w/o 27may81
1981	369hs	76-0829S	N8304F : Hughes Helicopters Mar/Aug 1977 N191BB : Sonoma County Sheriff Office (SCSO), CA from Aug77; w/o 24apr81; May81 canc as destroyed
1981	ab205a-1	4176	MM80778 : CC-34. 4 Nucleo Elicotteri. w/o 16nov81 at Viba Valentina, Catanzaro
1981	ab205a-1	4279	MM80714 : Esercito E.I.343. replaced c/n 4247 given to Morocco. 21 Gruppo. w/o 05sep81 at Monte Limbara, Sassari
1981	ab212	5609	5D-HM : w/o 03jul81
1981	ah-1j	26071	160106 : USMC; conv AH-1T unk; w/o 18sep81
1981	ah-1j	26079	160114 : USMC; conv AH-1T unk; w/o 22may81
1981	ah-1t	26086	160748 : USMC; HMM-261 w/o 23feb81 160748 : Crashed in Spain. The pilot and squadron flight surgeon who was on a fam flight were both killed in the crash. 160748 : Class A damage, on recovery crew and CDI for HMLA-269 deployed to HMM-261. All personnel and airframe recovered. 160748 : I have the data plate from the airframe after the crash; Manufacturer S/N 26086; Contract Number DAAJ01-77-C-0481; Accepted 4-78; Aircraft Identification Plate No. 00098
1981	CH-46D	2266	153370 : BV-107M, c/n 2266, ff?; accepted BWR FR Morton, PA as CH-46D 153370 13Mar67; xfer NARF North Island 27Mar67; xfer HMM-364, YK-19, 07Sep67; xfer HMM-263 13May69; xfer H&MS-36 COSA 10May71; xfer HMM-164 28Oct71; xfer H&MS-36 16May72; xfer HMM-164 28Oct72; xfer HMM-165 24Jul73; xfer H&MS-36 17Oct74; xfer HMM-165 09Apr75; further unit xfers unk; xfer HMM-163, YP-??, unk; w/o 11Jun81. 153370 : 1969-70 I flew it in Viet nam. It was an incredable aircraft. Took alot of battle damage and still would get me home every time but alas she sits in about 2000ft of water of the coast of one of the japanese islands. One of the blade lost its deicing strips and the crew had to land in the water where I am told it floated for about 45min and then sank. I dont know who the pilots were but the crew chief was Jerry Greer 153370 : 1978-1979, I crewed this Bird in Okinawa with HMM-161. She was know as "Carelson's Magic Bus..
1981	CH-46D	2267	153371 : BV-107M, c/n 2267, ff?; accepted BWR FR Morton, PA as CH-46D 153371 16Mar67; xfer NARF North Island 27Mar67; xfer HMM-364, YK-05, 20Sep67; xfer HMM-263 13May69; xfer HMM-262 01May71; xfer HC-6 29May72; xfer USS Guam (LPH-9) 06Nov72; xfer HC-6 09Feb73; xfer ? unit unk; xfer HC-6, HW-1, May78; w/o 09Jan81. 153371 : Former Cpl. Jr Venhous USMC. Crew chief of 153371 from feb68 to nov68, RSVN, @ Phu Bia
1981	CH-46D	2312	153961 : BV-107M, c/n 2312, ff:?; del BWR FR Morton, PA as CH-46D 153961 12Jul67; xfer HMM-261 20Jul67; xfer H&MS-30 COSA 25Sep68; xfer HMMT-302 15Nov68; xfer HMM-262 02Aug69; xfer HMM-161 10Aug70; xfer HMM-165 19Aug70; xfer H&MS-36 COSA 22Nov70; xfer H&MS-36 22Jan71; xfer HMM-164 07May71; xfer HMM-165 21Jan72; xfer HMM-164 21Nov72; further unit xfers unk; xfer HMM-165, YW?? unk; w/o 03Mar81. 153961 : w/o 03mar81 as HMM-165 /YW-03 crashed while aboard the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3). Crew chief was killed, both pilots made in out.
1981	CH-46D	2386	154035 : BV-107M, c/n 2386, ff?; accepted BuWepsRep, FR, Morton, PA as CH-46D 154035, 28Dec67; xfer HMM-264 19Jan68; xfer HMM-261 14Mar69; xfer HMMT-402 21Aug69; xfer NAS North Island A&T 19Dec70; xfer HC-3 19Jan71; further unit xfers unk; xfer HC-11, VR-66, unk; w/o abd USS Wichita (AOR-1), 70 west of San Diego, Ca, 21Nov81. 154035 : Sept.1981 pictured as UH-46D type with HC-11 /VR-66 at NAS North Island, CA 154035 : w/o 21nov81, reported missing from USS Wichita (AOR-1) 70m W of San Diego, CA 154035 : Assigned to HC-11 Det 4. All 4 onboard perished. Crashed after taking off at night and flew into water 154035 : My name is AECS AW NAC Garrity (Ret). This Was my first off several heart breaks. AMS2 Thomas Bishop Was on that fiight. He was my best friend and room mate. After the mishap, the small amount of reackage was brought back to squadron spaces. The only items of Toms left was his Helmet. The Crew crashed with brutal impact. TOM Rest in peace. I love you brother. 154035 : Was on deck that night...had just given up the LSE duties to my backup when the accident happened. Rest in peace my brothers.
1981	CH-46F	2565	157666 : BV-107M, c/n 2565, ff?; accepted BuWepsRep, FR, Morton, PA as CH-46F 157666 18Nov69; xfer HMM-264 05Dec69; xfer H&MS-26 19Dec74; xfer HMM-264 31Mar75; further unit xfers unk; xfer HMM-164, YT-??, w/o 10Feb81.
1981	CH-46F	2608	157709 : BV-107M, c/n 2608, ff?; accepted BuWepsRep, FR, Morton, PA as CH-46F 157709 24Sep70; xfer HMMT-402 24Sep70; xfer HMT-204 01May72; xfer H&MS-26 17May73; xfer HMM-162 06Nov74; further unit xfers unk; conv CH-46E unk; unit xfers unk; xfer HMM-265, EG-??, unk; w/o 27Jul81. 157709 : Jul81 as EG-10/HMM-263 flipped over on the flight deck while turning and burning. Salt water was poured on it and the aircraft was not taken to Cherry Point until HMM-263 returned to CONUS in Nov81. The aircraft was written off due to corrosion 157709 : Greg Boyle was the Crew Chief. The Navy Director (Yellow Shirt) was knocked off the deck most likely by a disintegrated rotor blade. I don't believe his body was recovered.
1981	ch-53a	65-105	153719 : Sikorsky S-65A, c/n 65-105, ff:?; del USMC as CH-53A 153719, unk 153719 : w/o 19jul81 HMH-772 /MT-407 153719 : During CQ hit another Squadron helicopter chained down on deck but running
1981	ch-53a	65-113	153727 : USMC CH-53A 153727 : w/o 10feb81 HMH-462 /YF-
1981	ch-53d	65-307	157731 : Sikorsky S-65C, c/n 65-307, ff:?; del USMC as CH-53D 157731, unk 157731 : w/o 17sep81 with HMM-263
1981	ch-54a	64-021	67-18419 : Sikorsky S-64A, c/n 64-021, ff?; del US Army as CH-54A 67-18419 unk; w/o 16Aug81.
1981	hh-3e	61-628	68-8282 : USAF; 38 ARRS w/o 1981
1981	hh-52a	62-022	1353 : Sikorsky S-62C c/n 62-022, ff?; del USCG as HH-52A Seaguard 1353, Salem, OR, 16Jan63; xfer North Bend, OR unk; soc when engine stall resulted in one fatality, 14Nov81. 1353 : w/o at Coos Bay, OR. Aircraft capsized 1353 : I was the air crewman the night this aircraft went down.
1981	hh-52a	62-115	1427 : USCG HH-52A; w/o 22oct81. 1427 : 19jun67 entered service at CGAS Houston; 10apr70 to CGAS Kodiak 1427 : w/o 22oct81 crashed during a training flight near Bates Field (which is now Mobile Regional Airport and Aviation Training Center ATC Mobile). All four crew members on board the helicopter were killed. 1427 : rotor blades separated from head during normal flight; Names of personnel killed in the incident: LT Raymond T. Brooks LTJG Robert E. Winter AD3 Mark C. Johnson AD3 Joe A. Hinton; Air Station assigned to: AIRSTA Mobile; Location of the incident: Bates Field; Description of the incident: During a night instrument flight the crew experienced a catastrophic failure of a major flight control. There was an instantaneous breakup of the aircraft. 1427 : It was determined that a pitch change control rod broke while in flight.
1981	HH-53B	65-090	66-14435 : USAF; 1550th ATTW w/o 23sep81 66-14435 : 1551st CCTW, Kirkland AFB; w/o 29sep81, aircraft and crew lost on during a night time combat training mission on Mt. Taylor near Grant, NM.
1981	hss-2	61-039	148967 : USN; conv SH-3H; HS-4 w/o 19jun81 ditched Indian Ocean 148967 : I was in it when it was ditched and lost at sea. Never recovered
1981	hss-2	61-051	148979 : USN; conv SH-3G; pictured (top) as HC-1 /UP-727 148979 : HC-1 /UP-727, when disbanded all helos went to HS-74 148979 : pictured (bot) on amphibious transport dock USS Plymouth Rock (LSD-29) as HS-74 /AW-455 unknown date ( wrongly reported as 1988 due LSD-29 decom in 1983 ) 148979 : w/o 27apr81 with HC-1 Det 2 148979 : crashed on a small island in the pacific during a radiological survey of bikini atoll. Hi speed shaft bolts failed causing fire in flight. Crew survived !!! Ask Lt. Hall....
1981	hss-2	61-066	148992 : USN; conv SH-3H; HS-8 w/o 16mar81
1981	hss-2	61-110	149696 : USN; conv SH-3G; HS-3 w/o 13sep81
1981	hss-2	61-127	149710 : USN; conv SH-3G; HC-1 w/o 10apr81 149710 : my recall of the events
1981	hss-2	61-154	149736 : USN; conv SH-3H; HS-12 w/o 19sep81 tail rotor failure
1981	OH-6J	6312	31012 : Kawasaki 369E, c/n 6312, ff?; del JGSDF as OH-6J, 31012 unk; unit xfers unk; w/o 05Sep81.
1981	S-55B	55-1004	N874 : Sikorsky S-55B c/n 55-1004, ff:?; del Chicago Helicopter Airways as N874, 18Sep56; sold Loma Linda University, converted to aerial ambulance, unk; w/o near Beaumont, CA, 29May81.
1981	s-58b	58-807	N422A : Sikorsky S-58B, cn 58-807, ff:?; del US as S-58B, N422A, 28Mar58 N422A : xfer Petroleum Helicopters as N422A, 1958 N4247 : rereg Petroleum Helicopters as N4247, by Jan64; NTSB report: "Robinson Creek KY. Damage - substantial. Engine failure. 28Jul68." N4247 : xfer Carson helicopter as S-58, N4247, by Jul68; NTSB report: "Salem, NJ. Damage - none. Ground crew maneuvered sling load cable into contact with live power line. 08Jul70."; xfer Summit Timber as N4247 by Jan76; xfer Queen City Helicopter, 11May76; NTSB report: "Bellevue, WA. Damage - destroyed. Fire in flight due to FOD. 07Aug81"; FAA reports Undel Tri.
1981	s-62a	62-060	N92863 : Sikorsky S-62A c/n 62-060, ff ~1964; registered Sikorsky as N92863; del California Company as N92863, Mar65; w/o when fire in main rotor gearbox caused a lndg in a swamp near Venice, LA, 10Nov81; reg canx Apr86.
1981	S-64B	64-060	N6965R : Sikorsky S-64E c/n 64-060, ff 1969; del ERA Aviation Inc as N6965R unk; dam when Cowdrey, CO 13Dec76, repaired & returned to service; w/o during logging operations near Kitsault Village, BC, Canada, 05Jun81, 2 fatalities.
1981	sa315b	2267	H-61 : FAA d/d 13dec72; w/o 01feb81
1981	sa316b		21 : FAS, w/o 1981
1981	sa316b		24 : FAS, w/o 1981
1981	sa318c	2230	SX-HAI : Olympic Airways; w/o 13jun81
1981	sa330f	1308	560 : Kuwait air force; w/o 10jun81
1981	sa330h	1380	6W-SHK : Senegal airforce d/d 1977; w/o 1981
1981	sa330l	1433	174 : SAAF; w/o 29sep81 174 : 29sep81 crashed at Oshakati during a brown out, 6 people on board were killed, the pilot survived. I was researching the three medical staff killed on this casevac flight for a Ops medic / Doctor Book
1981	ht.3	1314	XX396 : RAF HT.3; w/o 30jun81; to 8718M Cranwell /N Airframe Technology Flt by 2004 XX396 : 13+14jun92 traveling exhibit./N XX396 : to Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search School by Jun 2017.
1981	sa342k	1325	509 : SA342K del KAF as 509, unk; asgd 33/34 Sqn; w/o 11Apr81; noted dumped at Ali Al Salem AB, Feb12.
1981	se3130	1311	75+29 : PD-135; PH-239; PH-208; HFB8; HFB200; HFS10; w/o 17.09.1981 Strassberg
1981	has.5	wa 875	XZ915 : Ex XV915, f/f 07feb79, d/d 30mar79, w/o 06mar81 XZ915 : 07Jun80 noted RNAS Lee-on-Solent coded 015.N of 820 squadron HMS Invincible; Crashed 06Mar81 after hitting XZ917 off of Lee-on-Solent in fog and ditching XZ915 : w/o 06mar81 collided with Sea King XZ917 during approach HMS Invincible in fog, ditched 5m S of Catherine Point, Isle of Wight. 5 fatalities XZ915 : wreck of main fuselage at Arbroath dump/015-N by 1983 XZ915 : noted at RNAS Culdrose Airday 25jul79 uncoded with 706NAS
1981	has.5	wa 877	XZ917 : Ex XV917, f/f 01/03/1979, d/d 05/04/1979, w/o 06/03/1981. XZ917 : 06Mar81 coded N.016 of 820Squadron, HMS Invincible collided with XZ915 whilst flying in fog. Ditched off of Lee-on-Solent; 11Mar81 wreck recovered to RNAS Lee-on-Solent XZ917 : noted at RNAS Culdrose Airday 25jul79 uncoded with 706NAS
1981	mk42	wa 735	IN503 : Westland Sea King Mk.42, cn WA735, ff?; del Indian Navy as IN503, unk; w/o 01feb81. IN503 : ditched at sea
1981	Sioux	wa312	XT153 : AAC Sioux AH.1 XT153 : 1967-1969, I worked on and flew in XT153 based at Larkhill, and attached to firstly 25 Field Regt. Royal Artillery, and later to 49 Light Regt. royal Artillery. D-HOFD : Germany unk, to ZS-HJB ZS-HJB : South Africa; w/o 07dec81
1981	Sioux	wa371	XT212 : AAC Sioux AH.1 unk to Germany D-HAFG D-HAFG : Private , w/o 15Jul81
1981	Sioux	wa434/wap148	XT545 : AAC Sioux AH.1 10Apr79 to G-BGOZ as Westland Bell 47G-3B-1 G-BGOZ : Private w/o 18Jun81, wreck Chilbolton
1981	UH-1B	1023	A2-1023 : RAAF d/d 1964; BuNo 63-13591; w/o 19aug81 Williamtown NSW due tail rotor failure
1981	UH-1B	3103	N9-3103 : RAN d/d 1965; BuNo 64-17623; w/o 26mar81 at Nowra; preserved Australia Museum of Flight Nowra
1981	UH-1B	513	993 : BuNo 62-1993. w/o 24apr81
1981	UH-1E	6077	151883 : HML-776 QL-400 w/o 06feb81
1981	UH-1H	1H08	41608 : Fuji-Bell 205B, c/n 1H08, ff:?; del JGSDF as UH-1H 41608 unk; unit xfers unk; w/o 03Mar81.
1981	UH-1N	31057	69-6651 : USAF 69-6651 : w/o 1981~ crashed at Kirtland AFB
1981	UH-1N	31449	160831 : USMC; w/o 29sep81 on USS Inchon (LPH-12)
1981	UH-1N	31655	158779 : USMC; HML-770 /MN; w/o 02feb81 near NAS Whidbey Island, WA 158779 : Two souls lost. Squadron Operations Officer (Major) and Crew Chief (Sergeant). Crashed in Redbluff area of Northern California while in transit from NAS Whidbey Island to Yuma Arizona 158779 : w/o 28jan80 crashed and burned
1981	UH-1N	31656	158780 : USS Guam (LPH-9) w/o 19jul81
1981	UH-1N		159703 : USMC; HML-367 /VT w/o 03feb81
1981	Wasp	f.9588	XT418 : d/d 4 Dec 1964. 829 Sq Argonaut Flt/466-AT by Jun 1968 still Mar 1970; RNAY Fleetlands by Jun 1970 marked as /452 by Sep 1970 but not released to Galatea Flt (?); 829 Sq HQ Flt/501 by Jan 1971; transferred to 703 Sq/501 Jan 1972, ditched off Portland and recovered by Sea King XV668; RNAY Fleetlands by Oct 1972, RNAY Wroughton by Mar 1974, NASU Culdrose by May 1974 still Feb 1975, RNAY Wroughton by 11 Mar 1975 and /637 code applied; temporarily issued as 829 Sq Scylla Flt/432 until Apr 1976; at RNAY Wroughton by Mar 1977 as /637; 829 Sq Arethusa Flt/426 by Jul 1977 still Sep 1977; 829 Sq Endurance Flt/435-E by Jun 1978. XT418 : 22jul79 829Sqn coded 435 Endurance Flt XT418 : w/o 13 Dec 1981 while operating from HMS Endurance Flt/435-E, rolled over following beach landing on South Georgia. Stripped of parts and abandoned in place.
1981	has.1	wa 31	XM872 : Westland Wessex HAS.1, c/n WA031, f/f:?; del Royal Navy as XM872, 17/07/1961; conv HAS.3, unk; w/o 11/03/1981. XM872 : 819 Sq/320 by Jan 1962, still 1965. XM872 : noted 22jul79 at HMS Osprey RNAS Portland coded 662-PO XM872 : To Westland early 1966 for conv to HAS.3, completed mid 1967. 706Sq/569-CU by summer 1967, RNAY Wroughton by Feb 1973, 737 Sq/662-PO by Jan 1976, w/o 11 Mar 1981 with 737 Sq when ditched off Portland, following an engine fire.
1981	has.1	wa 69	XP118 : Westland Wessex HAS.1 del Royal Navy 07jul62; conv HAS.3, unk; w/o 15jul81 ditch 15m S of Portland; scr Predannack XP118 : noted 22jul79 at HMS Osprey RNAS Portland coded 664-PO XP118 : noted on a lorry in Plymouth 22 Jun 1982, heading for Predannack (?)
1981	hu.5	wa270	XT448 : Westland Wessex HU.5, c/n WA270, f/f: 17/02/1965; del Royal Navy as XT448, 05/03/1965; w/o 07/10/1981. XT448 : On a flight between NAS Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune while with 845Sq /S on HMS Hermes, a section of tail rotor failed and the airframe ditched and sank.
1981	mk.60	wa199	G-17-1 : ff 21 Jul 1965, registered G-ASWI by Sep 1965. G-ASWI : Wessex 60, ex G-17-1, to G-ASWI /H.84, to VR-BDS, to G-ASWI, to VR-BDS, to G-ASWI, UK C of A expired 27 Oct 1981. VR-BDS : Westland Wessex Mk.60, c/n WA199, first delivered to Bristow Helicopters Ltd. in England as G-ASWI, 1964; displayed as H.84 at Paris Air Show, Le Bourget, 01Jun67; lsd Helicopter Rentals, Bermuda as VR-BDS, unk; rtnd Bristow as G-ASWI, unk; CofA canx, 1981. G-ASWI : Crashed 12 miles ENE of Bacton, Norfolk on 13 August 1981. All 2 crew and 11 passengers were killed G-ASWI : Following this accident on 13 Aug 1981 while returning from the Leman field to Bacton and the earlier one to G-ATCA, led to the withdrawl of the type from service with Bristow.
1981	har10	wa363	XP347 : Westland Whirlwind HAR.10, c/n WA363, ff: 08Feb62; del Royal Air Force as XP347, 06Mar62; w/o 03Jun81; wfu as 8688M, unk; scr Gutersloh, Germany, 1985. XP347 : noted in operational use at RAF Lossiemouth 22aug78 XP347 : 202 Sq, regular visitor to RAF station during Jul 1979 XP347 : Forced landing following tail rotor failure at Koksijde, while en route RAF Gutersloh.