An iPad may have been behind a helicopter crash in the US last year that killed two retired soldiers. According to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an iPad that fell inside the helicopter jammed the pedal.
Is the iPad behind the helicopter crash?
Details of the military helicopter crash in the US state of Idaho have begun to emerge. It has emerged that the unexpected crash of the Boeing CH-47D military helicopter was not caused by the pilot. According to the report, an iPad that fell to the ground caused the co-pilot’s pedal adjustment lever to jam.
The NTSB has not yet issued an official statement on the accident. However, investigation reports have revealed that an iPad was found in the wreckage of the helicopter and its outer casing was bent with gouge marks. This means it could have caused the pedal adjustment lever to jam.
The iPad jammed the left pedal, causing the helicopter to veer to the left and the pilot to lose control. As a result, the helicopter began to spin uncontrollably counter-clockwise and crashed into the river.
It has been suggested that the iPad was used to facilitate flight management and replace paper documents. We now know that many flight crews carry a tablet instead of an electronic flight bag (EFB). However, in the wake of the accident, the use of technology in this area has been questioned.
Accidents like this remind us that aviation operations should pay attention to detail and not skip safety protocols. The NTSB report has yet to be confirmed, but it is possible that more safety measures will be taken in the future.
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