"I'm feeling a little dizzy"

[sqwakvfr]

I watched a lot of the NtSB hearing investigating the mid air crash between an US Army Blackhawk helicopter and an American Eagle regional jet that occurred on Jan 29, 2025 at DCA (Reagan National Airport).  The CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder) transcripts for the Army helicopter was released and I could not believe what I saw.  The pilot flying the helicopter, an Army captain, told her the instructor conducting the evaluation flight that she was "feeling a little dizzy".  This was a night time evaluation flight while under NVG's (NIght Visioin Goggles) and was conducted within DCA airpace.  I am wondering why the pilots did not go "goggles up" or even terminate the flgiht and leave DCA airspace. As we all know 67 people died as a result of this collision. This mid air should have never happened in the first place. I commend the NTSB and especially chairperson Jennifer Homendy for asking the tough questions to both the Army and the FAA.  For those who ever donned NVG's you know it feels disorienting.  I cannot imagine flying an aircraft with those on in a crowded airspace that is DCA.  Also, some pilots feel spatial disorientation while flying. This can occurr while flyiing in either actulal or simulated intrument conditions.  I myself had spatial disorentaton while conducting an instrucment approach in a general aviation aircraft but I was able to recover rather quickly. The title of the vidoe says "Vertigo" but I beleive spatial disorientaion might be the correct term. 

 

 

[JimGant]

This accident occurred because the Blackhawk was above the mandated 200ft max altitude prescribed for VFR flight in this controlled airspace. Why? Faulty altimeter, or wrong barometric setting? Or, was radio altimeter the required altimeter to be followed -- and if so, maybe faulty? Or, can't read instrument panel with NVG (dunno, never wore NVGs). In any event, they WERE above 200 feet -- and into the reserved airspace for approach into that runway for the passenger jet.