frank.tino

This tragic mishap occured just as another Army Guard Blackhawk [ not Tennessee or Alabama/ and far from it ] was also on a TRNG Mission shooting RNAV approaches to my Airport located not 1/4 mi from my home…

Made me stop and think as he announced " Rogue…established on…"…

Looking closely at the ring door bell video that from afar captured the incident; the TNANG Blackhawk appeared to seem as if it had a puff of smoke or shed some parts at the beginning of the incident — main rotor strike on tail boom ? …or tail rotor failure?

Let the Army Guard and NTSB determine that…

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kor745

The Helo was going straight down at high speed before that smoke came off. Whatever happened it happened above the camera angle. It was already doomed.

granburyaircraftserv

Back in the 80’s at Campbell we had a similar crash where the stabilator went full down deflection.

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dbier

For most helicopters (don’t know specifically about a Blackhawk) if recognized and acted on quickly enough, tail rotor failure can typically be countered by sufficient forward motion. So to see it plummet from that altitude I’m guessing it was something else.

NewUserName

Only 2 souls? I’ve spent a lot of time riding in Blackhawk helicopters. I’ve never been on one without a crew chief onboard.

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mrbyh20

Back in the 80’s while in the Army at Fort Richardson we called these “crash hawks”. Hated the aircraft when they started to arrive. It was always to do with the chip detectors that caused us the biggest issue. But like you we had a full down stabilizer issue on one flight but luckily we were just at a close hover and able to drop to the tarmac without any further issue. We were plain lucky. So no more flying in the Blackhawk instead I went back to the Huey’s crew.

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mrbyh20

I’m not seeing in this article where it says only 2 onboard? Perhaps I’m not seeing it however as you said we always have a min of 3, and depending on our mission took on more.

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J_Earnie

What caused the stab malfunction?

NewUserName

I saw it on another story.

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gahorn146ys

Oh… That makes it factual then.

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KirkW

Multiple sources have since come out with the identities of the two crewmembers killed. There’s no mention of a third crewmember.

NewUserName

That was an exceptionally rude comment. What exactly motivated you to make it?

gmbfly98

That’s sad to hear. I am one of those “more than 22,000” to have gotten my PPL and COM seaplane rating from Jack Brown’s.
Their planes typically fly at 500 AGL (except for a bit higher when practicing stalls) and operate out of Lake Jessie, so I wonder why the two planes collided over Lake Hartridge, which is on the opposite (east) side of the airport.

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cutlermaine

Not that it makes any difference to such a horrific tragedy, but particularly awful that this happened so close - geographically and time-wise - to Sun 'n Fun in nearby Lakeland. Heartfelt prayers for those lost and for their families and loved ones.

maule

Sad news for all involved, including the Cub and Piper.

See and avoid as best you can everyone, and remember not everyone has ADSB out or a transponder of a radio or electrical system for that matter.

Also remember airplanes in flight can be nearly invisible.

Raf

Sometimes this wonderful world of aviation is not so wonderful, it can also have its dark moments. Rest in peace fellows.

andrewjkm

If 29 was in use, what does the standard traffic pattern look like? Where would the base leg be flown?

Bill_B

So sad. Not an uncommon high wing low wing merger. Each type has to bank now and then to check the blind spot especially close to airports.

Carl_Miller

The day before the accident I flew my annual splash and dash at Browns with Lou as safety pilot. He seemed to be knowledgable and very safety conscious.
With 60 years with Cubs on Floats flying close to Winter Haven Airport, it’s amazing how safe it’s been.
I too wonder why the Cub was at the far (east) side of the airport.
Sad day for sure!

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FlyerDon

Do their Cubs have electrical systems? If not do they use handheld radios? I’m not passing judgment, I’m just curious because I’ve read they do have radios and I’ve read they don’t.

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danvdmeer

It is a simple and relatively inexpensive modification to install an antenna and ground plane on the wing or fuselage. A hand held aviation band radio connected to the antenna is usually equivalent to a nav/com. I’ve done this in two Aeronca 7AC. I did it as the owner and made a log book entry. It gave me peace of mind. But I must admit that my very rare near collisions in the airport environment were in fully equipped small singles.

Karrpilot

Normally no, a Cub doesn’t have an electrical system. At least the early ones didn’t. Now how would one comply with the ADSB mandate? I’m not being a Monday morning quarterback here, but me thinks that by now, ADSB shouldn’t be an option anymore. This event proves that.

dbier

Even if a plane doesn’t have ADSB-Out - it was my understanding that if there is radar coverage in the area that picks them up, they will still be displayed for those who have ADSB-IN. The rub would be if they are in a remote area without radar coverage or possibly too low to be picked up. Is my understanding correct?

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KP1

Not exactly - if the cub didn’t have a transponder at all, there would be nothing about it contained in the ADS-B traffic broadcast.

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gmbfly98

When I was last there (~2017, give/take a year), they only had a battery-powered headset intercom system, no radio.

gmbfly98

And also even if they were picked up on radar, it’s not exactly a real-time position. It takes some time to transmit it back out via ADS-R (if I remember my acronyms correctly).

Brad_Smilth

Chance of being in the mid air is quite low, but is one of the biggest fears of every pilot. Regardless of your skill or hours in the air, you can be taken out by another aircraft even when your doing everything right.