It’s almost as if the mainstream media has forgotten about the 67 people who died in the D.C. plane crash recently. Now we’ve been dropped a bombshell.
And a disturbing development in the Washington, D.C. plane crash case is raising eyebrows.
A preliminary investigation into the deadly midair collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and a commuter plane near Washington, D.C., on January 29 has revealed possible issues with the helicopter’s altimeter and communication lapses with air traffic control, officials said.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair Jennifer Homendy shared the initial findings during a press briefing on Friday. According to Homendy, the flight data and cockpit voice recorders suggest that the helicopter’s pilots may have been working with inaccurate altitude information.
“The helicopter’s flight data indicated two different altitudes being read out by the pilot and her instructor shortly before the collision,” Homendy explained.
The helicopter’s radio altimeter, which uses radio waves to measure altitude above ground level, displayed 278 feet at the time.
However, investigators are not yet certain that this was the reading the pilots were relying on during the flight. “We are seeing conflicting information in the data, which is why we aren’t releasing altitude for the Black Hawk’s entire route,” Homendy noted.
The regional jet involved in the collision had a recorded altitude of 313 feet just two seconds before impact. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the discrepancy between the two aircraft.
Communication breakdowns may also have played a role in the crash. After reviewing recordings from the helicopter and the Reagan National Airport control tower, the NTSB believes the helicopter crew may have missed critical instructions to pass behind the commuter jet.
Homendy suggested that the pilots might have inadvertently blocked the tower’s transmission by keying their microphone at the same time.
“The control tower gave clear instructions, but we don’t hear them acknowledged on the helicopter’s voice recorder,” she said.
The helicopter’s black box was recovered on January 31 and appeared undamaged. The device is a combination of a cockpit voice recorder and a digital flight data recorder. In contrast, the voice recorder from the American Airlines regional jet had sustained water damage and had to be carefully dried out before analysis.
NTSB investigators have also determined that the helicopter crew was likely using night vision goggles while conducting a combined annual and night vision check ride. The Army routinely performs these check rides to evaluate pilots’ instrument and nighttime flying skills.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the NTSB continuing its examination of both aircraft’s flight data and cockpit recordings.
Large portions of the helicopter’s wreckage have been retrieved from the river, aiding investigators as they piece together the sequence of events that led to the collision.
The crash, which occurred near Reagan National Airport, claimed the lives of 67 people.
“We have finished our work at the crash site, but the analysis phase is far from over,” Homendy stated.
The NTSB expects to release a preliminary report by the end of the month, focusing on the data gathered from the wreckage, flight instruments, and recorded communications.
The final report, with conclusions and safety recommendations, will follow after a more thorough investigation.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
