What caused the fatal air crash? Key questions that next

Investigators are working to determine if any plane that is involved in a collision near Reagan National Airport is in unauthorized airspace.
Experts study whether the collision avoidance on the American Eagle aircraft operates and if the Black Hawk helicopter had a similar system used.
The National Transport Security Council (NTSB) is investigating to determine the cause of the accident and stated that it issued a preliminary report for 30 days.

After the collision of the Middle Air between the 5342 American Airlines flight and the US Army helicopter Black Hook near Washington National Airport Reagan on Wednesday night, officials and the public are looking for urgent answers about the cause of the disaster.

There are many speculations that float around and many theories are nominated by experts and armchairs, and although the reason for answers is clear, it is also important to summarize and be comfortable with the fact that some such answers simply take time.

“In the first 24 hours we usually know very little, and often what we know is false in the days and weeks follow Economic freedoms project, said USA Today.

Currently, less than 24 hours after the accident, we do not know much.

“As we are just beginning our investigation, we do not have much information that can be shared,” said Todd Inman, a member of the National Transport Security Council at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. “We will keep you informed by getting regular updates when we learn more.”

However, experts say, some basic facts about the accident are already publicly known.

“We know that the CRJ plane was on the approach to the runway 33 in Reagan and was in the short finale, probably at or below about 500 feet, and the helicopter was driving. There is a Helicopter Route That Goes Down The River on the East Side of the River, So Those Two Routes, The Final Approach Course and that Helicopter Route ot by very much, only A few hundred feet, ”Jim Braul said in an interview with Motley Rice.

It still leaves a lot of questions unanswered.

“Even the best experts now on the front line have a tonne of unanswered questions. They know more than we are now, but they still don’t know everything, ”McGi said.

Here’s what probably experts will dig, and how the probable time scale of investigation looks.

Was it or a plane out of place?

One of the first questions that investigators are likely to try to answer – whether any aircraft occupied a airspace in which it should not be. Early Audio Audio Air Traffic Audio suggests that the American Airlines flight followed the designated track for landing in DCA and that the helicopter was also in an area in which he is usually authorized to stay, though perhaps at a different height than that height , intended for his flight.

“This is a strange approach. The approach to this runway, the plane, when they approach the airfield flying on the east side of the river above land, but then a mile and a half from the runway will lead to a great turn of 50 degrees to go to the ground. When they make this turn, they are 490 feet, so they will cross through the river for 400 or 450 feet, but this helicopter route is on or below 200 feet, “said Braushl” Even if they both where they should be, in There are only about 200 feet of separation, which is not much separation. ”

Senator Tammi Dacworth, D-El. Dacwort, who is a member of the US Committee on Trade, Science and Transport, is a veteran with a black hawk experience.

McGi said he had the same initial questions.

“These are one of the most prominent air spaces in the US. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time? “He said.” Why did the plane ride a plane that was cleared to land at a major US airport? ”

Has the collision avoided system reacted?

All commercial planes in the United States must be equipped with a warning tool known as a system of avoiding traffic collision or TCAS. Military aircraft flying in civilian airspace may not require the installation or operation of the system, but some still do.

One question that investigators are likely to study whether the system was functioning on the American Eagle aircraft, regardless of whether the black hawk with it and it turned on during the collision.

But experts warn, it is not a stupid system.

“When you are so close to the runway in such a movement, it may not necessarily call it,” Braukhl said. “It will be interesting when you get a flight recorder to see if TCAS is activated or warning.”

Who was responsible for the accident?

Air catastrophes are almost never caused by one factor, but the National Transport Safety Council, which is investigating on Wednesday, will work to understand how the incident happened.

One of the key issues will be what was the immediate causal factor.

“Was it more than what could any crew do? Was the military helicopter where it was supposed to be or should not be at that time? “Macgi said.” They seem to have arrived at 90 degrees directly to the approach to the active runway. It should not be at this flight level. ”

Dacworth emphasized the need for reason and “wait for NTSB and FAA to first do their work to investigate the accident.”

The story continues below.

Robert Iom, CEO of American Airlines, also stated in a letter to employees on Thursday that NTSB is the only body of information about this accident.

“While the investigation is ongoing – and will last for a long time – we will share what can be available when information becomes available. It is important to remember that the National Transport Security Council (NTSB) heads the investigation of aviation accidents. NTSB will be the only source of truth forward, and accuracy is extremely important, ”the letter reads.

Night vision glasses and other factors that could enter the game

The time of day and other factors often contribute to the accident, even if they do not cause it directly.

“I heard the message, but I did not necessarily confirmed it, but (air movement control) talked with a helicopter, and the helicopter said they could see the plane,” Broach said. “You could think it is a plane, a commercial plane, they should be able to see it, but at night the only thing you can see is its light. If you are in a helicopter only a few hundred feet from the ground, it’s a very urban The territory, and it is very well lit, it is very easy to distinguish what lights you look at. ”

Helicopter pilots were also at night training training and may have used night vision glasses. Minister of Defense recognized The press statement that the night vision glasses were on board the helicopter at the time of the incident, but did not indicate whether the pilots were used when the accident occurred.

“Where you also attract night flight, especially when it is a training mission, they often train from night vision glasses,” – Robert W. Mann, the younger, former executive director of the airline and current President RW Mann and Company, USA TODAY reported Consultation from airlines. “They are inaccurate, to be honest, and they are often subjected to disorder (from lights) in their field of view.”

Also, both Macga and Broucle were said that the plane was just in the blind spots of each other.

Braucl explained that since the American jet was returning, he may have “put his stomach to a helicopter” that would keep a helicopter from the Jet Pilots.

Similarly, he said, if the helicopter was in a certain position below the jet, he may not see the aircraft.

“There was a helicopter accident that we worked on a few years ago in the Gudzon River, which participated in the tour and plane helicopter. No one was seen until the last second. NTSB has done a visual study, a study of human factors, ”he said. “You would be blind, there are certain areas until you have directly on it, and most times it is late to respond at this point.”

How the investigation will continue

“Now is not the time for speculation,” Dacwort said. “We need to get to the facts.”

This investigation will take time. McGi said his full, final report.

Inman, a NTSB member, said the agency expects to issue a preliminary report in about 30 days.

“We’ll find the time you need,” he said. “If we find something that is an important question that requires immediate action, we will not hesitate to make these recommendations and publish them.”

Meanwhile, according to McGi, it is important for travelers to know that flights are safe, and the industry learns from this incident to make it safer.

“We all know, it is worth saying, and someone, like I was critical, should be told once in time: it is an extremely safe system, but that does not mean be vigilant,” he said.

(This story has been updated because the previous version included inaccuracy.)