KDCA 1/28/25 20:00pm PAT11 / SWA3565 / RPA4514 go-around

[baldiedc]

Washington Post and other media is reporting on another "aborted landing" [go-around from 4 miles @ 1500ft] due to helicopter traffic, the day before the DCA crash.  This is that audio for reference and some context.

RPA4514 was on final for Rwy 19 and came onto Tower just after 20:00ET on 1/28/25 (0100Z 1/29/25), cleared for landing, notified of helicopter traffic in opposite direction up the river (at Georgetown @ 300ft at the time).  PAT11 (US Army Blackhawk) was notified of the incoming traffic on Final.  Both pilots acknowledged opposing traffic in sight.

About 1 minute later, RPA4514 notified tower they were going around due to a TCAS RA for the helicopter.  This was approx 4 miles from the field descending at ~1500ft, PAT11 at ~600ft (based on ADSB-Aware/FlightAware replays).  Route 1 helicopter altitude requirement at Chain Bridge is at/below 700ft.

RPA4514 went back around via DCA Final Approach (124.7) and landed normally around 20:11.

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/RPA4514/history/20250129/0009Z/KBDL/KDCA

Clip is edited for time and content, combination of TWR (119.1), HELI (134.35) and DCA Final (124.7) frequencies.

[baldiedc]

Following up on this one as PAT11 passed two planes on Route 1 featured on youtubes, so here is more complete audio from the PAT11 route approval to SWA3565 landing and RPA4514 go-around.

SWA3565 passed PAT11 around Georgetown with at least 500ft vertical separation; there is lateral separation here as choppers stay to the East side of the River thru Georgetown and planes diverge before Key Bridge over Rosslyn.

Not sure accuracy of altitudes in ADSB-Exchange when not on MLAT - ADSB-Ex is showing PAT11 at 500ft as it passes SWA3565 but Tower reports it at 200/300ft in two advisories.

Note the multiple clear & specific advisories/viz-sep's from Tower to both planes and PAT11, highlighted below
~~~

This is real-time, combination of HELI thru 0100Z and then TWR/HELI from 0100-0102Z (I didn't have TWR archive for 1230Z so it's missing some responses from SWA3565).  Clip starts at 0056.30Z

0056.30      PAT11/Tower - route approval Route 1 / Chain Bridge / Zone 2 / Zone 7 / departure to North

0056.58
                  Tower/PAT11 - "PAT11 Traffic going to be approaching Cabin John continuing down river to be South West 3500 descending landing runway 1" [should be Rwy 19]
                  PAT11 - "Request visual separation PAT11"

0058.53
                  SWA3565 gets landing clearance for Rwy 19 and advisory for the "helicopter over Memorial Bridge VFR NW-bound 200ft they have you in sight..."
                  [missing SWA3565 response as this section is from Heli frequency]

0059.44      PAT11 reports Memorial Bridge and confirms again viz separation with “Southwest off your nose"

0100.20
                  RPA4514 gets landing clearance and advisory “helicopter over Georgetown Northbound 300ft”.
                  PAT11 gets viz sep for “2mi North of your position Embraer 1900 descending landing 19er”, PAT11 affirms.
                  RPA4514 affirms helo traffic in sight. 

0101.13      Change of controller

0101.40      RPA4514 calls go-around due to TCAS RA (see notes in previous post)

0102.04      SWA3565 lands