Helicopter Crash in DC

[Mik]

There were a lot of figure skaters on the plane coming back from an event in Wichita.

[jon-nyc]

Ugh

[Doctor Phibes]

God, how awful. Was it very windy last night? It was around here. Not sure whether that could have contributed

[LuFins Dad]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Helicopter Crash in DC:

God, how awful. Was it very windy last night? It was around here. Not sure whether that could have contributed

Yes.

[Jolly]

Just an opinion...

Jets like the Bombardier don't have a lot of visibility looking down from the cockpit. The helicopter surely has a lot more total visibility. With all the lights of that urban setting at night and figuring in the short runways, I'm guessing Reagan is not an easy place to land at that time of the day.

Going forward, we're going to have to address helicopters and commercial jet traffic, and whether any helicopter visual separation is allowed by the tower (assuming the tower has the helicopter on radar).

[George K]

[George K]

[89th]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Helicopter Crash in DC:

God, how awful. Was it very windy last night? It was around here. Not sure whether that could have contributed

Yeah, what's worse (I guess) is they were approved and lined up for the main runway (Runway 1) but due to the wind the pilot asked to land on Runway 33 instead, which is not abnormal for CRJs at the airport. Fatal change.

If I were a betting man, I bet the pilot of the helicopter was looking either at the CRJ that just took off or a CRJ lined up for Runway 1 (which would've been straight in front of him) and didn't see (obviously) the CRJ lined up for Runway 33 which is about a 45 degree difference to his left as he was flying forward.

[George K]

I assume "CA" is "Collision Alert".

No idea if this is real, btw:

[LuFins Dad]

And at least one of those on the Blackhawk was a trainee…

[89th]

@Jolly said in Helicopter Crash in DC:

Just an opinion...

Jets like the Bombardier don't have a lot of visibility looking down from the cockpit. The helicopter surely has a lot more total visibility. With all the lights of that urban setting at night and figuring in the short runways, I'm guessing Reagan is not an easy place to land at that time of the day.

Going forward, we're going to have to address helicopters and commercial jet traffic, and whether any helicopter visual separation is allowed by the tower (assuming the tower has the helicopter on radar).

Yes the pilots were absolutely focused on the landing, since it's a shorter runway and windy. This is 100% the helicopter pilot's fault, a sad accident.

[89th]

[89th]

You know, if he spent 5 minutes on reddit he would've been better informed. SAD

[George K]

This shows the speeds of the two aircraft.

[AndyD]

I wonder if all the lights of the city were a factor.
Is separation the standard warning word?

[89th]

Separation is common between a pilot and the tower to indicate they should (maintain) visual separation. Kind of an obvious command, but for choppers in the area it's not really possible to control their heading and altitude the way they can with planes coming in for a landing.

[89th]

@George-K said in Helicopter Crash in DC:

This shows the speeds of the two aircraft.

See the top middle of that image? That's the golf course I was talking about LOL

[89th]

For example, I took a video (screenshot above) last time I played golf there, of this flying overhead as I was trying to tee off!

[89th]

Not sure, but is that the blackhawk sitting on top of the airplane? I wonder if it struck the airplane directly on the nose.

Larger pic: https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1idgd3d/photo_of_american_airlines_5342/#lightbox

[jon-nyc]

Forgive me if this was posted. WaPo reporting no survivors.