THe US Air Force has released its official report on the fatal crash of one of its Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters on 7th January 2014 on the coast of Norfolk, UK.

The very thorough document notes that the Accident Investigation Board President found “by clear and convincing evidence that multiple bird strikes caused the mishap by rendering the mishap pilot and mishap co-pilot unconscious and disabling the Trim and Flight Path Stabilization systems.”

In more detail, they note that 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 MA, disabling the Trim and Flight Path Stabilization systems. With both the pilot and co-pilot unconscious and the Trim and Flight Path Stabilization disabled, the cyclic stick was free to move randomly. The helicopter banked left to a point where it had no vertical lift, and coupled with a lack of pilot input to correct the roll, the Pave Hawk impacted the ground approximately three seconds after being struck by the geese.

See also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 07-Jan-14 88-26109 Sikorsky HH-60G Cley, UK (4F)

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com