**Title:** Investigators Uncover Altimeter Issues in Black Hawk Collision
**Meta Description:** Safety investigators reveal faulty altimeter readings may have contributed to the tragic Black Hawk and American Airlines collision near Washington.
**URL Slug:** black-hawk-altimeter-issues-investigation
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**Headline:** Investigators Reveal Faulty Altimeter Readings in Black Hawk Collision
Safety investigators examining the midair collision in January between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington have discovered that a critical instrument on the helicopter was providing inaccurate altitude data. This discrepancy may have misled the pilots into believing they were flying at a lower altitude than they actually were.
On Wednesday, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) commenced a three-day hearing to review findings from the investigation into the crash, which resulted in the tragic loss of 67 lives. The NTSB reported that the Black Hawk’s barometric altimeter, which measures altitude by detecting changes in air pressure, indicated that the helicopter was flying 100 feet below the American Airlines jet at the time of the incident. However, it remains uncertain whether the helicopter crew verified this information against other instruments, such as the radio altimeter, which calculates altitude based on the time it takes for radio waves to bounce back from the ground.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy addressed reporters during a break in the hearing, stating, “There is a possibility that what the crew saw was very different than what the true altitude was.” She noted that while some have quickly attributed the incident to pilot error, the investigation is still ongoing, and it is “possible there was zero pilot error here.” Homendy also mentioned that the NTSB is contemplating whether to issue urgent safety recommendations regarding the altimeter issue before releasing its final report, expressing dissatisfaction with the Army’s responses on how they plan to tackle the problem.
Documents from the NTSB investigation depict a chaotic night in the Washington airspace, with air traffic controllers managing communications among numerous commercial flights, military helicopters, and an air ambulance. A cockpit voice recording from the ill-fated Black Hawk captured an instructor remarking to the pilot he was training about the busy airspace.
Kylene Lewis, a representative for the US Army, stated that there is no official policy dictating which altimeter pilots must rely on or whether they are required to cross-check data across different devices. She added that Army pilots are expected to verify their barometric altimeters before flights, and as long as the readings are within a 70-foot margin of error, they are deemed acceptable for use.
While the NTSB had previously indicated it was investigating the possibility of faulty altitude readings from the helicopter, this marks the first confirmation of such findings. As part of their inquiry, investigators tested three other Black Hawks of the same model—Sikorsky UH-60L—from the same Army battalion as the accident helicopter. They discovered that during flights over the tidal section of the Potomac River, their barometric altimeters indicated altitudes 80 to 130 feet lower than expected.
**Conclusion:** The investigation into the Black Hawk collision highlights critical safety concerns regarding altitude measurement instruments. As the NTSB continues its work, the implications of these findings could lead to significant changes in aviation safety protocols.
**FAQ:**
**What role did the altimeter play in the Black Hawk collision?**
The altimeter’s inaccurate readings may have misled the helicopter pilots about their actual altitude, potentially contributing to the midair collision with the American Airlines jet.
