AH-64E crashed again after hitting an electric wire during a night flight

November 18, 2017 16:30

A Dutch AH-64E Apache attack helicopter suddenly crashed into a power line during a night training flight.

According to a source from the Dutch Air Force, the accident occurred when this force was conducting a combat training flight in the dark. Immediately after hitting the power line, the AH-64E was severely damaged but fortunately the plane still landed safely.

According to initial information, the cause of this accident was due to the plane's night vision system not seeing any obstacles. However, the authorities continue to investigate to find out more about the cause of this unfortunate incident.

And if the error of not seeing obstacles is the main cause, this is a serious problem for this world-leading attack helicopter line because the day/night vision enhancement system (M-TADS/PNVS) on the Apache is still highly appreciated by the US.

Chiếc Apache bị hỏng nhẹ sau khi va vào dây điện.
The Apache suffered minor damage after hitting a power line.

According to the manufacturer's introduction, M-TADS/PNVS is an assistance system on combat helicopters that helps pilots operate at night or in bad weather conditions and low visibility.

This system was designed by Lockheed Martin and has been equipped on US Air Force helicopters since 2003. Basically, M-TADS/PNVS allows pilots to have night vision as good as day thanks to technologies using temperature sensors and highly sensitive infrared sensor systems.

The images extracted to the pilot's display system will be in high-contrast black and white, giving the pilot many times better visibility than using the night vision system, which produces a conventional green-tinted image.

Not only does it increase the efficiency of flight operations, it also helps reduce the cost of operating the aircraft because it does not require much inspection and maintenance. However, all the parameters announced by the US will be meaningless if it cannot operate as planned.

It is known that before the Dutch AH-64E Apache crashed into the power line, a similar incident also happened to an AH-64E Apache of the US army in late 2015 during training in Gangwon province, northeast of Korea. The accident killed 2 members of the plane.

According to AP statistics, this is not the first time the world's leading attack helicopter has crashed recently. In November 2014, an Apache of the Idaho National Guard crashed during a training exercise, killing both pilots.

Previously, in April 2014, a Taiwanese Apache helicopter suddenly crashed into a house in Taoyuan County during a military exercise. Two pilots were injured, but the aircraft did not explode despite being broken into pieces.

In addition, during the US military operations in Iraq in 2003, a number of accidents with this helicopter also occurred. In addition to the cause of being shot down as announced by the US military, according to experts, there were also engine failures and technical problems...

Apache is the number 1 attack helicopter in the world today. During the Iraq war in 2003, Apache burned to death the powerful Iraqi armored force with several hundred tanks, most of which were T-72s made in the Soviet Union.

However, according to AP, the success of Apache on the battlefield does not go hand in hand with the necessary safety. According to this magazine, if we consider the safety of Apache and China's number 1 attack helicopter - Z-10, the American helicopter is somewhat inferior.

According to Dat Viet Newspaper

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