WASHINGTON- Investigators have launched a critical probe into the altimeter readings of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter involved in the fatal collision with an American Airlines (AA) CRJ700 regional jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on January 29, 2025.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed during its February 14 update that the helicopter’s flight data recorder failed to capture the altimeter readings displayed to the pilots.
Photo: NTSBBlack Hawk Altimeter Failure
NTSB branch chair Sean Payne confirmed the discovery of invalid pressure altitude data, which directly influences both cockpit altimeters and related aircraft systems.
Payne emphasized the problematic nature of the corrupted data, stating that investigators must determine whether this irregularity affected only the flight data recorder or extended to other helicopter systems. He assured that the investigation would ultimately reveal the precise altitude readings visible to the pilots during the flight.
Photo: NTSBThe catastrophic collision occurred at 20:48 when the Black Hawk struck the descending CRJ700 passenger jet near its intended landing at Reagan National.
The impact forced both aircraft into the Potomac River, resulting in the deaths of all 64 passengers aboard the CRJ700 and the three crew members in the Black Hawk.
NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed through radio altimetry data that the Black Hawk maintained an altitude of 278 feet above the Potomac River at the moment of impact.
Photo: NTSBAirspace Violation
The investigation focuses on understanding why the Black Hawk helicopter exceeded its 200-foot altitude restriction in the designated corridor, an elevation limit that could only be surpassed with explicit air traffic control authorization.
NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy disclosed that the Black Hawk crew likely operated with night-vision goggles during the flight. Investigators now examine whether these goggles impacted the pilots’ ability to detect the approaching passenger jet.
Photo: NTSBA significant discrepancy emerged five minutes before the collision, outside the restricted corridor, when the pilot reported flying at 300 feet while the instructor pilot indicated 400 feet. Homendy acknowledged the unresolved nature of this altitude reporting inconsistency.
Critical communications occurred 17 seconds before impact when air traffic control instructed the Black Hawk to maneuver behind the CRJ. However, a 0.8-second radio transmission from the helicopter potentially blocked this crucial directive from reaching the crew.
The CRJ700’s Traffic Collision Avoidance System was activated, triggering a “Traffic Traffic” alert to its flight crew. One second before impact, the commercial jet attempted an emergency maneuver, pitching its nose up to nine degrees. The aircraft’s elevators reached their maximum upward deflection in this final evasive action.
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The post Black Hawk Altimeter Failure Possibility in Midair Collision with American CRJ700 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
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