Washington Crash: Faulty Altimeter and Ignored Alerts

Quick Summary

• Incident Overview: A Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet over Washington, D.C., in January, killing 67 people, including elite figure skaters and union workers.
• Key Findings:

– The helicopterS barometric altimeter showed inaccurate altitude readings, with errors of up to 80-100 feet. Similar discrepancies were found in other helicopters from the same unit.
– FAA was warned as early as 2022 about increasing risks posed by close-proximity helicopter traffic near Reagan International airport but did not act adequately on safety recommendations.

• FAA and Army Testimonies: Both agencies deflected blame during hearings while acknowledging concerns such as minimal separation distances (as low as 75 feet) between helicopters and planes on certain airport routes.
• Controller Issues: Air traffic controllers relied heavily on “visual separation” methods and squeeze plays to manage dense airspace traffic. Night vision goggles used by the pilots may have impacted visibility during crucial moments before the collision.
• NTSB Criticisms: NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy sharply criticized FAA’s bureaucratic inefficiencies for failing to address systemic safety risks despite consistent warnings.

Read More

Indian Opinion Analysis

This deadly collision highlights critical gaps in aviation safety oversight that could serve as precedent lessons for India’s growing airspace management needs-especially given exponential aviation growth domestically. For India, key takeaways include prioritizing robust equipment inspections (e.g., altimeters), reducing reliance on visual judgment for busy airports, and establishing strict enforcement of minimum flight separation standards.

Moreover, bureaucratic delays or ignored warnings within regulatory bodies like FAA underscore the importance of proactive risk recognition mechanisms; this is a valuable insight for Indian aviation regulators such as DGCA to avoid similar institutional failures.

As urban areas witness increased helipad usage alongside crowded international hubs like Delhi or Mumbai airports,India’s policymakers must implement cutting-edge technological solutions and detailed procedural reviews inspired by global case studies like this crash investigation.