Two Pilots Fatally Injured When Helicopter Went Down During Training

A simulated loss of power during a training exercised caused an Idaho National Guard Apache Helicopter to go down in November, resulting in the fatal injury of both pilots.

The crew of the helicopter consisted of Chief Warrant Officers Stien Gearhart and Jon Hartway. Both were senior flight instructors at Gowen Field. According to the investigation, they were practicing an engine-out procedure that called for one of the throttles to be placed in a "lock-out" position that is described as being comparable to pressing your car's accelerator all the way to the floor with the engine out of gear.

Stars and Stripes reports that in an email,Idaho National Guard Col. Timothy Marsano said that during this particular exercise, both throttles were place in the "lock-out" position, and the engine's speed raced to a level that caused them to both automatically shut down to avoid damage. It was not known how both throttles came to be in the "lock-out configuration. Both pilots in an Apache helicopter have access to throttle controls.

A statement summarizing the findings released to the media said that the pilots would have had only about three seconds between the shutdown and the impact ... which was not enough time to restart the engines.

The U.S. Army says it will use the accident to train crews on how to avoid a similar situation.

(Apache helicopter pictured in file photo. Not accident aircraft)

FMI: www.army.mil