UH-1H Military Helicopter Splits in Two During Training Exercise Accident

Two Turkish military Bell UH-1H Iroquois (“Huey”) helicopters collided mid-air during a routine training session. One came apart on impact, killing six personnel, while the other was able to land safely.

The pair of Hueys were on a training flight from the Turkish School of Army Aviation in Isparta, a city in western Turkey. It is believed that they had a rotor collision, causing one to lose control and come apart near a fuel station in the southwestern province of Isparta. The other UH-1H managed to make a safe landing around 400 meters away from the crash site.

Originally, officials reported that only four of the six servicemembers on board the aircraft had not survived. Five deaths were later confirmed, with the last being transported to a hospital before succumbing to their injuries. The region’s governor confirmed that Brigadier General ?sa Baydilli, who was in charge of the flight school, along with two lieutenants and two sergeants were among the victims.

Turkish military personnel were able to locate and retrieve the bodies from the wreckage. The other helicopter’s two-person crew is stable and receiving medical treatment.

The reason behind the helicopters coming into contact remains unknown. Governor Abdullah Erin has confirmed that an investigation has been opened.

Unfortunately for the nation’s Air Force, the active Turkish UH-1H fleet size is getting painfully small. In 2020, Turkey had 15 Hueys left in service. It is estimated to have 13 left as of 2024, on top of around 20 Eurocopter AS532 Cougars and 3 Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawks. It also has an order out for four TAI T625 Gokbeys.

The Bell UH-1 has been a vastly popular and mass-produced helicopter design since the 1960s, eventually being used in more than 60 countries.  The UH-1H model was the most widely chosen Huey variant with over 5,400 units distributed. However, the aging chopper is starting to be replaced by modernized machines, like the Boeing MH-139A Grey Wolf.

FMI: www.bellflight.com