Army Helicopter Collision with Passenger Plane Investigated Following Altitude Errors
(Washington, D.C.) – An Army helicopter collision with a passenger plane in January was partly due to incorrect altitude readings, raising concerns about past warnings from air traffic controllers regarding helicopter operations.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 85 near misses at Ronald Reagan National Airport were documented prior to the incident. Investigators revealed that altitude discrepancies led to the Black Hawk helicopter flying above the 200-foot limit before the crash with an American Airlines plane.
NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy criticized the FAA for not responding to safety concerns, emphasizing the lack of adequate separation between aircraft and helicopter operations. During hearings, Army officials confirmed that their helicopters' altimeters could be off by as much as 100 feet but defended this as acceptable within pilot training protocols.
The flight data recorder indicated the helicopter flew 80 to 100 feet higher than its altimeter suggested. Army Chief Warrant Officer Kylene Lewis stated that she would not consider such discrepancies alarming at lower altitudes.
Further complications arose during communications managed by an air traffic controller, leading to congested transmissions between multiple aircraft. Issues with improperly installed aircraft location systems, known as ADS-B, have also been identified.
Senator Ted Cruz has introduced legislation aimed at enhancing aircraft tracking and requiring better adherence to safety protocols. The final report from the NTSB is expected next year.