BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Air Force Global Strike Command announced the results of its accident investigation today into the Aug. 30, 2023, crash of a UH-1N helicopter at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.
All three crew members were able to exit the aircraft with non-serious injuries.
The accident occurred during the landing sequence following a scheduled training mission. While attempting a 180-degree autorotation, the crew overcontrolled the aircraft, resulting in excessive right bank, excessive nose low attitude and uncoordinated flight. When the crew identified the need for a power recovery, they conducted it incorrectly and executed it too late to avoid ground impact.
The aircraft impacted tail-boom first and came to rest upside down, resulting in a total loss of the aircraft, valued at $5 million.
The investigation board president identified the primary cause as the instructor pilot’s failure to recognize the need to execute a power recovery in a timely manner.
The board president also identified two substantial contributing factors, including the mission pilot’s control manipulation when entering the 180-degree autorotation, which resulted in a high sink rate, and the mission crew’s failure to correctly execute a power recovery once directed by the mission pilot.
The investigation report is posted on the Air Force Judge Advocate General Accident Investigation Board website at https://www.afjag.af.mil/AIB-Reports/