The scope being used by the controller working both the American Eagle flight and Army Blackhawk helicopter that collided Thursday in Washington, D.C. showed the helicopter about 125 feet lower than the CRJ700 it met over the Potomac River. At a press briefing on Saturday, NTSB member Todd Inman said the flight data recorder and ADS-B data put the regional jet at 325 feet AGL at the point of impact, plus or minus 25 feet while the controller's console showed the helicopter at 200 feet, the ceiling of the flight corridor it was flying at the time. Inman said the discrepancy would likely be reconciled Sunday when results of FDR analysis from the Blackhawk are complete but he did note that radar altitude displays have less fidelity than the recorders.
Why did it take an additional day to release her name? And raw ads-b data shows the helicopter over 300 feet at the crash, when the corridor clearly is marked and known for an altitude restriction of 200 feet. The controllers alert sounded for a conflict. So why would a controller allow a helicopter to fly “under by 100 feet” an airliner on final anyway…stupid.
ATC recordings clearly show the controller asking the helo pilot if she had the CRJ in sight, then directing the helo to pass behind the jet. Given the proximity of the approach path and VFR corridor, I would imagine this scenario is not uncommon. It seems to me the Army should reconsider the times it allows VFR operations in this corridor. Perhaps limiting operations to times when airline operations are fewest.
On a different note, if I were the helo pilot I might balk at flying directly behind and below an airliner, even a relatively small one like a CRJ.
Her body had not yet been found. Her family had made the request, probably to avoid the press assault that would had happened to them while they were grieving the loss with the additional stress of their daughter still missing, and finally none of us including press had a need to know. My opinion.
Bingo, putting a helo directly in the wake of a jet should have raised red flags for everyone. A simple “hold position” for the helo would have reduced all the risks.