A listing of USAF aircraft tail numbers dated 18 Feb 05 shows aircraft tail number 64-13980 being registered by the FAA as N37BA which was the number tail number used to export the aircraft to South Africa.
It would seem this aircraft saw service with the US Army, US Navy, the National Guard prior to being removed from government service. At least one airframe bearing that number on the data plate had that service anyway. Somewhere in all of the aircraft records should be the information to demonstrate the history of that data plate.
Once again....caution should be used when considering this data...it is not the official source but is supposed to have been taken from official records at some time in the past.
The VHPA Gold book data for that tail number:
Helicopter UH-1B 64-13980
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13980
The Army purchased this helicopter 0365
Total flight hours at this point: 00001175
Date: 05/13/67
Unit: 20 TC CO
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
Unknown this helicopter was Landing at 0500 feet and 080 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Bottom
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS, STRUCTURE
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 72671, ARADM, JSIDR (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )
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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13980
The Army purchased this helicopter 0365
Total flight hours at this point: 00001175
Date: 07/07/67
Unit: 611 TC CO
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
Unknown
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Forward area
Systems damaged were: MAIN ROTOR SYS
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 74262, HDSV (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. )
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Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13980
The Army purchased this helicopter 0365
Total flight hours at this point: 00001530
Date: 06/19/69
Unit: 238 AVN
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED IN THEATER
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at 0500 feet and 060 knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Right Side
Systems damaged were: UNK
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft continued and accomplished all mission objectives.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: UH1P3, 17003 ()
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The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter UH-1B tail number 64-13980
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 0365.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.
DATE FLT HRS UIC UNIT AREA POST COUNTRY
6610 43 941 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6611 38 979 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6612 54 1033 WC7ZAA 155 AVN CO VIETNAM RVN
6701 37 1070 3412 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM
6702 24 1094 3412 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM
6703 29 1123 3412 POST SUPPLY 6TH ARMY FORT ORD 6TH ARMY
6704 0 1123 3412 ARMY AVN DIV 6TH ARMY DUGWAY PG TEVALCOM
6705 52 1175 WCLGAA 765 TRANS BN VIETNAM RVN
6706 0 1175 WCLUAA 611 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN
6707 0 1175 WCLUAA 611 TRANS CO DS VIETNAM RVN
6708 0 1175 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6709 0 1175 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6710 0 1175 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6711 0 1175 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6712 0 1175 W0MUAA ARADMAC 4TH ARMY NAVAL AIR STA AVCOM
6801 0 1175 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
6802 0 1175 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
6803 0 1175 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
6804 2 1177 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVCOM
6805 26 1203 2422 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6806 19 1222 2422 355 AVN CO 4TH ARMY FORT SILL 4TH ARMY
6807 32 1254 2422 OPM SEA NITEOPS 1ST ARMY FORT BELVOIR AMC
6808 24 1278 2454 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC
6809 17 1295 2454 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC
6810 0 1295 2454 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC
6811 10 1305 2454 POST SUPPLY 6TH ARMY FORT ORD 6TH ARMY
6812 5 1310 2454 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC
6901 35 1345 2454 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC
6902 0 1345 2454 HHD 44 ENG GP THAILAND PACIFIC
6903 3 1348 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6904 54 1402 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6905 75 1477 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6906 53 1530 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6907 84 1614 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6908 80 1694 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6909 52 1746 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6910 65 1811 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6911 100 1911 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
6912 99 2010 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7001 65 2075 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7002 30 2105 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7003 93 2198 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7004 46 2244 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7005 71 2315 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7006 70 2385 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7007 9 2394 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7008 69 2463 WDX9AA 238 AVN CO 1AVN VIETNAM RVN
7009 44 2507 WEAWLF HEL ATCK LT SQ3 VIETNAM RVN
7010 81 2588 WEAWLF HEL ATCK LT SQ3 VIETNAM RVN
7011 22 2610 WEAWLF HEL ATCK LT SQ3 VIETNAM RVN
7012 59 2669 WEAWLF HEL ATCK LT SQ3 VIETNAM RVN
7101 103 2772 SEAWLF SEAWOLF SQDN 3 VIETNAM RVN
7102 103 2875 SEAWLF SEAWOLF SQDN 3 VIETNAM RVN
7103 117 2992 SEAWLF SEAWOLF SQDN 3 VIETNAM RVN
7104 36 3028 SEAWLF SEAWOLF SQDN 3 VIETNAM RVN
7105 74 3102 SEAWLF SEAWOLF SQDN 3 VIETNAM RVN
7106 107 3209 SEAWLF SEAWOLF SQDN 3 VIETNAM RVN
7107 100 3309 WEAWLF SEAWOLF SQDN 3 VIETNAM RVN
7108 0 3309 W0Y6AA AVSCOM FLT DET 5TH ARMY ST LOUIS AVSCOM
7109 0 3309 W0Y6AA AVSCOM FLT DET 5TH ARMY ST LOUIS AVSCOM
7110 0 3309 W0Y6AA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM
7111 0 3309 W0Y6AA BEL HEL BAILMENT FT WORTH AVSCOM
7112 1 3310 W0Y6AA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM
7201 11 3321 W0MUAA ARADMAC IN MAINT NAVAL AIR STN AVSCOM
7202 17 3338 WQM7T0 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7203 28 3366 WQM7T0 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7204 21 3387 WQM7T0 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7205 27 3414 WQM7T0 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7206 54 3468 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7207 24 3492 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7208 0 3492 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7209 0 3492 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7210 0 3492 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7211 0 3492 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7212 0 3492 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7301 1 3493 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7302 0 3493 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7303 3 3496 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7304 6 3502 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7305 12 3514 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7306 30 3544 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7307 20 3564 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7308 26 3590 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7309 18 3608 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7310 17 3625 WPE9D0 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7311 15 3640 WPE9D0 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7312 0 3640 WPE9D0 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7401 4 3644 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7402 1 3645 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7403 0 3645 WQM7T0 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7404 5 3650 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7405 23 3673 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7405 23 3673 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7406 4 3677 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7409 5 3699 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7410 17 3716 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7411 9 3725 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7412 17 3742 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7501 3 3745 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7502 5 3750 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7503 13 3763 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7504 13 3776 W0M7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7505 7 3783 WQM7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7506 0 3783 W0M7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7507 2 3785 W0M7AA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7508 18 3803 WP6J99 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7509 3 3806 W8BKAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7510 2 3808 WP6J99 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7511 13 3821 WP6J99 NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
7512 5 3826 W7NPAA NAT GUARD NAT GDZI
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The final report for the probable cause of the crash noted by Bert in his post....
MIA00LA170
On May 24, 2000, about 0820 eastern daylight time, a Southwest Florida Aviation SW-204, N37BA, registered to and operated by Colony Services Inc. as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural aerial application flight, crashed in a citrus grove in the vicinity of Fort Pierce, Florida. Instrumental meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The helicopter received substantial damage and the commercially-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from a remote field about 5 minutes before the accident.
According to the pilot, he was at 50 feet agl, and about 35 mph forward flight over an orange grove when he felt a shudder, heard loud cracking noises, and lost directional control. He attempted a forced landing between tree rows, touched down, and lost all control.
According to an FAA inspector, examination of the wreckage site revealed the rotorcraft collided with orange trees and made several rotations and collisions with the terrain before coming to rest on its left side. The tail rotor assembly was found about 400 yards from the wreckage. Inspection of the assembly revealed one of the tail rotor blade tip weights had torn loose, causing an imbalance and separation of the tail rotor assembly from the tail boom at the 90-degree gearbox. The blade data plate was missing and the area where the plate had been factory mounted was raised and painted over.
The tail rotor blade and the tip weight, found later by a ground crewman, were boxed and shipped to Bell Helicopter Textron for failure analysis with FAA oversight. According to the examination report, the cause for the blade tip weight separation was corrosion of the bond-line between the adhesive and the blade skin and corrosion of the bond-line between tip weight and the adhesive around the spar on the lead side of the blade. Screws used for a secondary means of fastening were still attached to the tip weight, and the countersunk screw holes in the blade skin revealed inward dimpling and elongation. A comparison of the reported blade part and serial numbers with the actual features of the blade did not match the Bell Helicopter assembly records. It was revealed that the reported blade and serial number was assembled in 1972 using a Narmco 1113 adhesive, (yellow). The adhesive found on the submitted blade was Narmco 123, (purple), and was used during the time frame, 1966 to 1968. The Bell Helicopter Textron Report No. 20400R-019 is an attachment to this report.
According to the FAA inspector who oversaw the blade examination, the apparent inconsistency between the blade serial number and the color of the tip cap adhesive caused him to request that Bell Helicopter Textron file a "Suspected Unapproved Part" report. This was accomplished on September 15