Helicopter
UH-1H 66-16494

Information on U.S. Army helicopter
UH-1H tail number 66-16494
The Army purchased this helicopter 0667
Total flight hours at this point: 00000141
Date: 09/16/67
Incident number: 670916031ACD Accident case number: 670916031
Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: B/227 AVN
South Vietnam
Number killed in accident = 3 . . Injured = 1 . . Passengers = 0
costing 476438
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated:
Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database.
Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report)
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
AC 1LT STYBEL CONRAD ANTHONY KIA
P WO1 COLITO JAMES MARTIN JR KIA
CE E4 GIROUX RJ
G SGT WOOD LAWRENCE JEFFREY KIA

Accident Summary:

The short shaft failed in flight. The aircraft crashed into trees and burned.

This record was last updated on 05/25/98
The following is crew member information for this incident:

Name: WO1 James Martin Colito, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/16/67
while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 22.9
Date of Birth: 10/18/44
Home City: Tacoma, WA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 67-7
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 26E-078 Short Summary: Short shaft failure. Aircraft crashed and burned 16 Sep 67.
Stybel died next day. CE E4 R.J. Giroux survived.
Aircraft: UH-1D tail number 66-16494
Service number: W3156445
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 07/13/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: non-battle dead Category of personnel:
active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/25/98

Name: 1LT Conrad Anthony Stybel
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/16/67
while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Died 1 days later on 09/17/67.
Age at death: 25.2
Date of Birth: 06/19/42 Home City: Plainfield, NJ
Service: AT branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Flight class: 66-22
Service: AT branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 26E-086
Short Summary: Short shaft failure. Aircraft crashed and burned 16 Sep 67.
Stybel died next day. CE E4 R.J. Giroux survived.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16494
Service number: O5419908
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 02/28/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 03
Location: Unknown Province

Additional information about this casualty:
Stybel, LT Colito WO July 67 LZ Dog (next to English) [09/16/67] B/227th,
1st Air Cav Near LZ Dog, short shaft failure,
crashed in trees near Bong Son and burned (could see smoke from LZ Dog).
One in crew lived and came back. Paul Vernon has photo of aircraft back at LZ Dog.
Related during VHPA 1998 by: Paul Vernon P. O. Box340 Clinton, OH B/227
1966-69 229th in Chinooks 2nd tour
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died illness or injuries
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Roman Catholic
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army:
non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 07/25/98

Name: SGT Lawrence Jeffrey Wood
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 09/16/67
while performing the duty of Gunner.
Age at death: 21.2
Date of Birth: 06/25/46
Home City: Holly, MI
Service: component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: B/227 AHB 1 CAV
Major organization: 1st Cavalry Division
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 26E-081
Short Summary: Short shaft failure. Aircraft crashed and burned 16 Sep 67.
Stybel died next day. CE E4 R.J. Giroux survived.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-16494
Service number: 55869063
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 67N40 = UH-1 Helicopter Repairer
Primary cause: A/C Accident
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: 04/21/67
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 01
Location: Unknown Province
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Non-hostile - died while missing
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Presbyterian
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army:
non-battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class:
enlisted personnel
This record was last updated on 07/25/98

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter
UH-1H tail number 66-16494
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter
and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 0667.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST     COUNTRY
6706   0    0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD      AVCOM
6707   0    0 W0MHAA DIROF SUP TRAN   6TH ARMY   SHARPE GD      AVCOM
6708  81   81 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN
6709  60  141 WAAVB0 COB 227ABAH1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN