Topline
The NTSB has wrapped the on-scene portion of its investigation into the Jan. 29 collision between a commercial jet and a U.S. Army helicopter, officials announced Friday, and the focus now turns to what exactly did the Black Hawk pilots see and hear.
NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy speaks to reporters about the midair collision between a commercial ... [+]
Key Facts
The NTSB’s on-scene portion of the investigation, which has now concluded, yielded a few possible causes of the crash, including bad altitude data that the Black Hawk pilots may have relied on, a possible miscommunication due to faulty radio transmissions between the control tower and helicopter pilots, and a missed required verbal check.
The Black Hawk pilot was flying a night-vision-goggle “check ride,” a practical exam that a U.S. Army pilot must pass to be qualified to perform specific duties, Jennifer Homendy, NTSB chairperson, told reporters.
Crucially, the Black Hawk crew told the air traffic control tower they would maintain visual separation from the plane, effectively “buying responsibility” for keeping their distance from the other aircraft, aviation safety expert and veteran pilot Capt. John Cox told Forbes.
There was a discrepancy on the Black Hawk cockpit audio between the barometric altitude readings given by the Black Hawk pilot and the instructor pilot, Homendy said.
The cockpit audio appears to indicate the Black Hawk pilots may not have heard the tower command to “pass behind” the plane.
The NTSB will also look at whether the Black Hawk’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) technology, which automatically broadcasts an aircraft’s position, had malfunctioned or was turned off.
Key Background
The NTSB is investigating the Jan. 29 midair collision between a Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet operated by PSA Airlines, a regional carrier owned by American Airlines, and a Black Hawk military helicopter near Reagan National Airport. The Bombardier jet—which had flown to Washington, D.C. from Wichita, Kansas—was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members and the U.S. Army chopper was carrying three people. There were no survivors of the crash.
Crucial Quote
“[Night vision goggles] are amazing technology, but it is like looking down two tubes,” Cox told Forbes. “If the helicopter crew didn't see the [PSA Airlines jet] because of the NVGs until the moment of impact, it may have been because it was in their periphery.”
What To Watch For
The NTSB’s preliminary report is due out in a few weeks. “I've seen preliminary reports that are two paragraphs and I've seen them that are several pages,” said Cox. “I suspect it will be pages rather than paragraphs.” It may take a year or more for the NTSB’s final report to be released.
Further Reading
D.C. Plane Crash Live Updates: Black Boxes Recovered From Plane And Helicopter (Forbes)
D.C. Plane Crash—Here's Where Investigators Will Focus (Forbes)
