NTSB investigates midair collision involving Army Black Hawk and commercial jet

The United States has witnessed public hearings by the National Transportation Safety Board concerning a midair collision that occurred in January involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet over the Potomac River. On the first day of the hearings, investigators examined multiple factors that may have contributed to the incident, including previous warnings issued by the Federal Aviation Administration about helicopter traffic in the area. The hearings highlighted that the helicopter was flying above the 200 feet altitude limit before the crash, and there were discrepancies in altitude readings from its pilots' instruments. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy pointed out that an FAA working group had raised concerns about the density of helicopter traffic surrounding Reagan National Airport as early as 2022, but despite this forewarning, the FAA did not enhance helicopter charts with specific cautions that might have mitigated the risk of collisions during critical operational phases of flight, especially when the runway was in use. The chairwoman noted that the midair collision exemplified the very situation where such a cautionary note would have been pertinent, indicating potential negligence in the FAA's actions. The investigation also revealed that the helicopter was operating under potentially outdated technology, as it utilized 1970s altimeter designs rather than modern air data computers, which could provide more accurate altitude readings. Chief Warrant Officer Kylene Lewis expressed that while some discrepancy between altimetry readings can be expected, the margins in handling altitude are considered acceptable by pilots. Concerns also surfaced regarding the air traffic control protocols in place at the time of the crash. Reports state that the controller was managing multiple aircraft across different frequencies, leading to limited communication between helicopters and planes. This lack of clarity raised alarms regarding the safety procedures when managing flight operations in close proximity to each other, particularly given the documented history of 85 near misses around Reagan National Airport prior to the accident. The investigation will continue, with a final report from the NTSB expected in the next year, as authorities seek to determine precise causative factors of the accident.