Norfolk Pave Hawk Crash Attributed to Night-time Bird Strike by Flock of Geese
http://www.heart.co.uk/cambridgeshir...y-bird-strike/
The HH-60 from RAF Lakenheath which came down on the North Norfolk coast, killing four crew members, crashed as a result of bird strikes, officials have said. The helicopter crashed near Cley next the Sea on January 7th during a routine training exercise.
This morning the US Air Force issued the findings of its investigation, saying Brigadier General Jon Norman, president of the inquiry's board, had "found clear and convincing evidence that multiple bird strikes caused the mishap by rendering the pilot and co-pilot unconscious and disabling the trim and flight path stabilisation system''.
Accident Summary
"On 7 January 2014, at approximately 1805 local time, the mishap aircraft (MA) aka Pave Hawk, an HH-60G, Tail Number 88-26109, assigned to the 56th Rescue Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, United Kingdom (UK), experienced multiple bird strikes during a training mission and impacted privately-owned, grass-covered marshland near Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, UK.
Under 10 U.S.C. 2254(d) the opinion of the accident investigator as to the cause of, or the factors contributing to, the accident set forth in the accident investigation report, if any, may not be considered as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding arising from the accident, nor may such information be considered an admission of liability of the United States or by any person referred to in those conclusions or statements."
This morning the US Air Force issued the findings of its investigation, saying Brigadier General Jon Norman, president of the inquiry's board, had "found clear and convincing evidence that multiple bird strikes caused the mishap by rendering the pilot and co-pilot unconscious and disabling the trim and flight path stabilisation system''.
Accident Summary
"On 7 January 2014, at approximately 1805 local time, the mishap aircraft (MA) aka Pave Hawk, an HH-60G, Tail Number 88-26109, assigned to the 56th Rescue Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, United Kingdom (UK), experienced multiple bird strikes during a training mission and impacted privately-owned, grass-covered marshland near Cley next the Sea, Norfolk, UK.
- The four crewmembers were fatally injured in the mishap.
- There were no civilian injuries or fatalities.
- The Pave Hawk was destroyed upon impact.
- The cost to the United States government is estimated at $40,302,061.
- Damage to private property consisted of minimal burning to grass at the crash site.
- The purpose of the training mission was to conduct a nighttime rescue scenario of a downed F-16 pilot.
- The training mission included two aircraft, the flight lead aircraft and the accident Pave Hawk collectively known as the mishap formation (MF).
- All members of the flight lead crew and mishap crew wore night vision goggles.
- The Pave Hawk departed RAF Lakenheath at 1733L and proceeded to an initial point to verify the status of the simulated downed pilot and conduct threat analysis.
- Strong winds pushed the MF toward a populated area.
- To avoid causing a noise disturbance, the Pave Hawk reestablished its initial point to the north near the coastline.
- The Pave Hawk departed the new initial point at 1804L, flying east at approximately 110 feet above ground level and 110 knots indicated air speed toward a landing zone near Salthouse, UK.
- The flight path took the Pave Hawk over Cley Marshes in the Norfolk Wildlife Trust near Cley next the Sea.
- A flock of geese took flight from Cley Marshes, likely startled by the noise of the approaching helicopters, and struck the Pave Hawk.
- At least three geese penetrated the windscreen, rendering the mishap pilot and mishap co-pilot unconscious, and at least one goose struck the mishap aerial gunner in the performance of special mission aviator duties, rendering the mishap areal gunner unconscious.
- In addition, at least one goose hit the nose of the Pave Hawk, disabling the trim and flight path stabilization systems.
- With the mishap pilot and mishap co-pilot unconscious and the trim and flight path stabilization disabled, the Pave Hawk's cyclic stick, which controls pitch and roll of the aircraft, was free to move randomly.
- The Pave Hawk banked left to a point where it had no vertical lift.
- Without vertical lift, and without pilot input to correct the left roll, the Pave Hawk was not able to remain airborne or maintain controlled flight.
- The Pave Hawk impacted the ground at 1805L approximately three seconds after being struck by the geese.
Under 10 U.S.C. 2254(d) the opinion of the accident investigator as to the cause of, or the factors contributing to, the accident set forth in the accident investigation report, if any, may not be considered as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding arising from the accident, nor may such information be considered an admission of liability of the United States or by any person referred to in those conclusions or statements."