Black Hawk 100ft above altitude ceiling at time of collision
February 6, 2025
In a 5 February update, the NTSB has revealed that the Army helicopter was around 100ft above the authorised flight ceiling for helicopters at the time of collision with a PSA Airlines passenger jet, with the maximum altitude for helicopters along the flight route set at 200ft.
Updated Potomac Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) information obtained by the NTSB showed that the Black Hawk was at 300ft on the air traffic control display at the time of the collision. Fusing information from multiple radar sources and ADS-B data, this figure is rounded to the nearest 100ft. However, the NTSB added it needs additional information to verify this, to which recovery of the helicopter wreckage will prove instrumental.
Unofficial estimates from publicly available flight tracking data indicate the collision occurred at approximately 325ft (allowing for a margin of error +/-25ft). Although the civil aircraft was broadcasting ADS-B Out data, the military aircraft – inkeeping with expected practices – was not; instead only broadcasting Mode S transponder data.
FAA navigation charts suggest that the helicopter (call sign PAT25) was travelling along helicopter route 4 at the time of the crash, although as-yet formally unverified ADS-B information indicates it may have diverted from this course momentarily before the moment of impact.
With major elements of the Bombardier CRJ700 recovered from the Potomac River – operations conducted by the NTSB in coordination with the US Navy – operations will now turn to recovery of the helicopter, which the NTSB stated on 4 February is “expected to occur later this week”.
With both aircraft’s ‘black boxes’ also recovered, NTSB investigators continue to transcribe the cockpit voice recorders for both aircraft, noting that “synchronization work for the Black Hawk flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder is ongoing”.
Two days after the deadly crash, the FAA confirmed it was limiting helicopter flights on routes over the Potomac River between the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the Memorial Bridge, as well as over the airport. Describing how the decision would immediately help secure the airspace near Reagan Airport, ensuring the safety of airplane and helicopter traffic,” US Transportation secretary Sean Duffy added: “The American people deserve full confidence in our aviation system and today’s action is a significant step towards restoring that trust”.
The restrictions – which allow exemptions for lifesaving medical support, law enforcement, air defence or presidential transport missions – will remain in place until the NTSB competes its preliminary investigation, with the first report due 30 days from the crash, upon which point it will subsequently be reviewed.
