U.S. Army grounds all non-critical aircraft after latest fatal mid-air collision

How often does this happen, are we running through their training too quickly? Could have sworn there was a maintenance issue in one of these cases. It says training but that could mean the ground crew as well.


www.npr.org...

The suspension of air operations was effective immediately, with units grounded until they complete the training, said Lt. Col. Terence Kelley, an Army spokesperson. For active-duty units, the training is to take place between May 1 and 5. Army National Guard and Reserve units will have until May 31 to complete the training.

2 U.S. Army helicopters crash in Alaska, killing 3 soldiers
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2 U.S. Army helicopters crash in Alaska, killing 3 soldiers
"The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training," the Army said in a statement.

On Thursday, two Army helicopters collided near Healy, Alaska, killing three soldiers and injuring a fourth. The aircraft from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright, near Fairbanks, were returning from training at the time of the crash, according to the Army. The unit is part of the 11th Airborne Division, which is nicknamed the "Arctic Angels."

Military investigators were making their way to Alaska's interior, with a team from Fort Novosel, Alabama, expected to arrive at the crash site by Saturday, said John Pennell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Army Alaska. Little new information about the crash was released Friday.

The Army on Thursday said two of the soldiers died at the site and the third on the way to a hospital in Fairbanks. The injured fourth soldier was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition Friday, Pennell said. The names of those who were killed were not immediately released.

For perspective in 2021 the US Army has 4,397 Aircraft Last Updated: 05/26/2021.

www.militaryfactory.com...

Airbus Helicopters H145 (EC145)National Flag Graphic
Airbus Helicopters UH-72 LakotaNational Flag Graphic
Airbus Military (CASA) C-212 AviocarNational Flag Graphic
Beechcraft C-12 HuronNational Flag Graphic
Beechcraft King AirNational Flag Graphic
Bell Model 206 (JetRanger / LongRanger)National Flag Graphic
Bell OH-58 KiowaNational Flag Graphic
Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey)National Flag Graphic
Bell V-280 ValorNational Flag Graphic
Boeing (Hughes) AH-6 / MH-6 Little BirdNational Flag Graphic
Boeing (Hughes) AH-64 ApacheNational Flag Graphic
Boeing CH-47 ChinookNational Flag Graphic
Bombardier Dash 8 (DHC-8 / Q-Series)National Flag Graphic
de Havilland Canada DHC-7 (Dash 7)National Flag Graphic
Fokker F27 FriendshipNational Flag Graphic
Leonardo C-27 SpartanNational Flag Graphic
MD Helicopters MD500 (Hughes 500)National Flag Graphic
Mil Mi-17 (Hip-H)National Flag Graphic
Mil Mi-24 (Hind)National Flag Graphic
Mil Mi-8 (Hip)National Flag Graphic
North American T-6 TexanNational Flag Graphic
Short C-23 SherpaNational Flag Graphic
Short Model 360National Flag Graphic
Sikorsky HH-60 (Pave Hawk)National Flag Graphic
Sikorsky HH-60 / MH-60T JayhawkNational Flag Graphic
Sikorsky MH-60 (Knighthawk)National Flag Graphic
Sikorsky UH-60 Black HawkNational Flag Graphic
UAV Factory Penguin C


www.cbsnews.com...

The U.S. Army on Friday grounded all aircraft — except those in "critical missions" — following a mid-air collision Thursday involving two helicopters in Alaska which left three soldiers dead and a fourth wounded. It marked the second such mid-air collision in the last month.

The Army said in a news release provided to CBS News that Chief of Staff James McConville ordered the "aviation stand down" after the two recent fatal accidents which claimed the lives of 12 soldiers, including a mid-air collision involving two Black Hawk helicopters near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, March 29 which left nine soldiers dead.

All aviators, except those in critical missions, are grounded until they "complete the training," the Army said.

"The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel," said McConville in a statement.

Thursday's mid-air collision involved two AH-64 Apache helicopters that were returning from a training mission near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the Army disclosed.

And in February, two members of the Tennessee National Guard were killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training mission near Huntsville, Alabama.

You gotta wonder if a week worth of "WOKE" training will prevent any more mid-airs ?

What happens when "other stuff" becomes more critical to career progression than you know actually doing your job.

Unfortunately, its not just 1 branch, just seems worse in the army because they fly those abominations.

a reply to: putnam6

All the services will stand down after a series of accidents like this. It happens to all of them every so often. The Navy has had a couple in the last few years. The problem is that over the last three years flight hours dropped pretty significantly. They’re expecting pilots to do the same thing they were doing before, with fewer flight hours.

imho
the mid-level officers are under big pressure to 'do more with less' &tc. 'Just Get The Job Done'. this attitude leads to shortcuts and rush jobs.

today's military seems to have a lot of 'ticket punching' in which officers do brief tours in different areas (overseas, artillery, infantry, training) so they can have a one-of-each on their resume and get promoted. so they never stay in one place long enough to really understand the job.

budget issues never end but The Mission continues.

they really need to pull back on the work load.

pilots generally demand more flight time, which stresses the equipment and the equippers.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: putnam6

All the services will stand down after a series of accidents like this. It happens to all of them every so often. The Navy has had a couple in the last few years. The problem is that over the last three years flight hours dropped pretty significantly. They’re expecting pilots to do the same thing they were doing before, with fewer flight hours.

Thanks, I was hoping you would reply, at first I thought this was about the maintenance issue, wasn't there a case of the wrong part and they needed to check all aircraft? Im sure Im misremembering but I think we were discussing it after the crash in Alabama

a reply to: putnam6

There have been several cases of counterfeit parts, or parts bought from places they shouldn’t have been lately. The F-35 was briefly grounded over a magnet in the engine that used material from China.

Both of these accidents recently were the result of a midair collision though. The two Blackhawks were reported flying extremely close together, and were running under night vision. We’ll have to wait for more information on what these were doing, but at a guess, they just lost sight of each other.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: putnam6

There have been several cases of counterfeit parts, or parts bought from places they shouldn’t have been lately. The F-35 was briefly grounded over a magnet in the engine that used material from China.

Both of these accidents recently were the result of a midair collision though. The two Blackhawks were reported flying extremely close together, and were running under night vision. We’ll have to wait for more information on what these were doing, but at a guess, they just lost sight of each other.

Did some research looks like they get grounded for maintenance and parts all the time, training though not as much

a reply to: putnam6

Training is usually after bad accidents. Fortunately, even with flight time being down as much as it is, those don’t happen often. Accident stand downs are also used for local areas instead of fleet wide too.

a reply to: Zaphod58

As far back as 07 about every third or fourth part we ordered it wouldnt fit on the b1.

Was such a common problem pro-super didnt even get upset when a plane, considering the how things have gone down hill since, not a surprise.

I don't see how this is possible with the way maintenance is managed with the SAM and NALCOMIS systems

a reply to: Zaphod58

Alright if I have a problem there better be f-18's and f-22's protecting my place!

a reply to: Islandparty

Actually they might be... I am worried about our missile defense systems.

a reply to: putnam6

General accidents are way up all over, I wonder why?

a reply to: anonentity

That tends to happen when flight hours drop the way they've dropped over the last few years. In FY21, Active Duty Air Force pilots averaged 10.1 hours a month. In FY20, it was 10.9 hours. In 2019, it dropped all the way down to 6.7 hours. Breaking it down by type, AD airlift pilots averaged 12 hours a month in FY21. ANG and Reserve pilots averaged 9.3 hours. Bomber pilots averaged 7.1, a miserable 1.4 for ANG pilots, and slightly better 2.3 for Reserve. Fighter pilots were at 6.8, 7.3, and 6.7 hours a month. Rotary pilots were at 6.5, 6.4, and 6.9 hours.

Army helicopter pilots need an average of 6.77 hours a month, with nine being the standard for proficiency. The only pilots that met minimum goals from FY17-FY21 were UH-72 pilots. They met minimum goals in all four years tracked, and surpassed proficiency in FY18 and 21. The UH-72 is a training helicopter. The AH-64 crews missed their minimum goals in FY18, 19, and 21. They met their minimum goals in FY20, but failed to reach proficiency. The UH-60 and CH-47 crews didn't meet goals in FY18, 20, and 21. They met minimums but not proficiency in FY19.

As for the civilian sector, commercial accidents have held pretty steady over the last few years, if not actually improving. General Aviation has always had a high number of accidents every year. A lot of pilots that are only trained for VFR get into situations they can't handle, or don't keep up on maintenance on the aircraft.

Going on historical data, Part 121 accidents from 2000 saw the number of accidents peak in 2003 with 51 accidents, two fatal, with 22 fatalities. The 2001 year saw the highest fatality rate with 531 fatalities. Since 2018, accidents peaked in 2019 with 36, with 1 fatal. In 2020 there were 10 with 0 fatal, and 2021 21 with 0 fatal.

a reply to: putnam6

Yet there are those who want send F/16s to Ukraine...

a reply to: vNex92

Which has absolutely nothing to do with this.