Inquiry Points to Excessive Self-Assurance of Instructor as Potential Factor in 2023 Wyoming UH-1 Helicopter Mishap
Helicopter Crash at Cheyenne Regional Airport: A Warning Bell for Air Force
The Air Force has taken responsibility for a $5 million UH-1N helicopter crash at Cheyenne Regional Airport, Wyoming, according to a recent Accident Investigation Board report. The mishap during an emergency landing procedure claimed no lives, but it's a stark reminder of the consequences of lax training and overconfidence in the cockpit.
The pilot, a seasoned member of the 37th Helicopter Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, with nearly 1,500 flying hours under his belt, was practicing an autorotation landing following a three-month layoff due to medical reasons. His civilian instructor, boasting 4,000 hours of experience, joined him for the flight.
The report fingers the instructor pilot for failing to adequately assess the risks and crystalize recovery steps. It seems he was overly confident in the pilot's abilities, fixated on specific cues, and jam-packed with tasks. Similarly, the pilot was slammed for losing control of the helicopter and not following through on a power recovery as instructed. The flight engineer, a current and qualified professional, was aboard as well.
The fateful flight embarked from F.E. Warren without incident and then traveled to Cheyenne Regional Airport for the final piece of the sortie, which required a 180-degree autorotation landing. An emergency maneuver executed in the event of an engine failure, it necessitates a 180-degree turn, descent, and the subsequent use of airflow to keep the rotors spinning. To practice this maneuver, crews typically reduce engine power.
However, when the pilot performed the turn, it was riddled with issues, such as excessive bank, plummeting nose attitude, and an uncoordinated flight. Rather than descending at a safe rate of 3,000 feet per minute, the helicopter hurtled down rapidly, averaging 4,185 feet per minute; at one point, it fell at 5,200 feet per minute. Surprisingly, the instructor relied on an overly optimistic assessment of the pilot's ability to correct the situation despite the dwindling time left.
The instructor told the pilot to watch his nose down, but it appears the pilot did not heed the warning. Eventually, at around 200 feet, the instructor called for a go-around, but it was already too late. With engine power still idling, the aircraft could not generate enough thrust to recover, and it continued its rapid descent. The instructor attempted a last-ditch flare, but the helicopter was unrecoverable, with an unbalanced bank, insufficient power, rotor speed, and forward airspeed.
The helicopter's tail slammed into the ground first, causing it to bounce between the tail boom and skids until both broke off. Freed from the restraints of the tail boom, the helicopter spun, its rotor pounded the ground, broke, and the main fuselage spun several more times before coming to a stop upside down. Remarkably, all military personnel aboard escaped with minor injuries, and both the instructor and the helicopter's passenger, another civilian, were unscathed, albeit the passenger's medical records were withheld from investigators.
Investigators placed blame squarely on the instructor for the mishap, as he failed to explicitly call for a power recovery. However, they also pointed fingers at the pilot for poor control leading to the excessive sink rate and the entire crew for failing to properly execute a power recovery once the instructor called for a go-around.
The aircraft was a total loss. Although the Air Force has been flying the UH-1N since the Vietnam War, it intends to phase out the aging choppers in favor of the new MH-139 Grey Wolf. F.E. Warren is yet to receive its first MH-139 Grey Wolf.
This incident underscores the critical importance of rigorous training, adherence to safety protocols, and a constant awareness of the dangers inherent in emergency maneuvers like 180-degree autorotation landings. The Air Force must learn from this mishap and work tirelessly to ensure such accidents do not reoccur in the future as it transitions to the advanced MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters.
- The instructor pilot was criticized for not explicitly calling for a power recovery during the 180-degree autorotation landing, contributing to the helicopter crash.
- The 37th Helicopter Squadron, a part of the Air Force, must emphasize rigorous training and adherence to safety protocols to prevent similar accidents as they transition to the advanced MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters.
- The military, in general-news, should ensure that security and safety are prioritized in their aircraft operations, considering the dangers inherent in emergency maneuvers like 180-degree autorotation landings.
- This helicopter crash at Cheyenne Regional Airport underscores the critical need for a constant awareness of the risks involved in such emergency procedures, and the need for crime-and-justice investigations to address any potential legal implications.
