NTSB: Army Chopper Exceeded Altitude in Fatal Midair Crash

Understanding the Factors Behind the Helicopter-Plane Collision

The tragic collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines passenger plane over Washington, D.C., in January was influenced by a variety of factors that contributed to the disaster. One key issue was incorrect altitude readings from the helicopter’s altimeters, which led it to fly too close to the commercial aircraft. However, concerns about the risks posed by helicopter traffic had been raised years before the crash, including warnings about 85 near-misses near the airport in the three years prior.

Despite these concerns, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did not make any changes to the routes used by helicopters or warn pilots about potential dangers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearings highlighted these issues as part of the investigation into the incident, which was the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. since November 2001.

Bureaucratic Challenges and Responsibility

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy criticized the bureaucratic nature of the federal government’s response to safety concerns. She noted that during the hearings, representatives from the Army and FAA attempted to deflect responsibility for the crash. The Army acknowledged that their Black Hawks might have altimeters that are off by more than 100 feet, but they argued that this was acceptable given the pilots’ goal of maintaining altitude within 100 feet of a limit.

However, the Army also raised concerns about the lack of separation between landing aircraft and helicopters flying on approved FAA routes near Reagan National Airport. Despite this, FAA and Army officials suggested that the responsibility for ensuring safe distances rested with air traffic controllers rather than the agencies themselves.

Aviation lawyer Bob Clifford, representing victims’ families, criticized the hearing for its “finger pointing” and lack of accountability. He emphasized that no one seemed willing to take responsibility for the tragedy.

Altimeter Discrepancies and Flight Data

Investigations revealed that the helicopter involved in the crash had altimeter discrepancies, with the flight data recorder showing the helicopter was 80 to 100 feet higher than what the barometric altimeter indicated. NTSB tests on other helicopters from the same unit confirmed similar issues.

Dan Cooper of Sikorsky explained that older Black Hawk models, like the one involved in the crash, used outdated altimeter technology. Newer models rely on air data computers for more accurate readings. Army Chief Warrant Officer Kylene Lewis stated that while she would be concerned about such discrepancies at lower altitudes, she relied on radar altimeters instead of barometric ones.

Route Concerns and Air Traffic Control

Army officials and medevac helicopter company representatives claimed that air traffic controllers would never allow helicopters to fly on the route involved in the crash when planes were taking off or landing. However, some pilots reported being allowed to fly underneath landing planes, raising questions about the actual procedures in place.

During the two minutes before the crash, an air traffic controller managed multiple communications across different frequencies, leading to "stepped on transmissions" where helicopters and planes could not hear each other. This issue, along with the use of night vision goggles that limited the pilot's field of view, contributed to the accident.

Safety Failures and Regulatory Oversight

The NTSB report also revealed that the FAA failed to recognize a troubling history of 85 near-misses around Reagan National Airport before the crash. Additionally, Army helicopters routinely flew without ADS-B Out equipment, which is used to broadcast location data. Even if the equipment had been turned on, many helicopters in the same unit had it installed incorrectly.

After the NTSB identified this problem, the Army issued an alert and worked to reprogram the units. Homendy noted that an FAA working group had raised concerns about helicopter traffic and collision risks in 2022, but the agency refused to add warnings to helicopter charts.

Legislative Responses and Future Changes

In response to the incident, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz introduced legislation requiring all aircraft operators to use both ADS-B Out and In technologies. This move aims to improve situational awareness and prevent future collisions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy supported the legislation, stating that previous administrations had been "asleep at the wheel" amid repeated near-misses in the airspace around Washington.

The NTSB’s final report is expected to be released next year, but the findings so far have already highlighted significant gaps in safety protocols and regulatory oversight. As the aviation community grapples with the lessons learned from this tragedy, the focus remains on implementing long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents in the future.