Accident Mitsubishi/Sikorsky UH-60JA Black Hawk 43106,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 310120

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Date:	Thursday 6 April 2023
Time:	15:56 LT
Type:	Mitsubishi/Sikorsky UH-60JA Black Hawk
Owner/operator:	Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Registration:	43106
MSN:	4006
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	18 km NW of Miyako Airport (MMY/ROMY) - Japan
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Miyako-Hirara Airport (MMY/ROMY)
Destination airport:	Miyako-Hirara Airport (MMY/ROMY)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
A Japan Self-Defence Force Mitsubishi/Sikorsky UH-60JA Blackhawk helicopter went missing 18 km northwest of Miyako Airport, during a reconnaissance flight around Miyako Island, Okinawa, just 10 minutes after takeoff from Miyako Airport. The flight made a usual radio contact with Shimoji Tower two minutes before losing the radar contact. A retired U.S. Navy soldier provides a movie of the Blackhawk a few minutes before the crash, and he reported the flight seemed normal at the altitude of 1500 feet. Analysis on the photos of other fixed cameras revealed the accident UH-60JA flew at 500 feet AGL a few minutes before the radar lost.
By the search operations, patches of floating oil and debris, i.e. broken rotor blade(s), doors, a part of the external fuel tank, non-inflated lifeboats and an undamaged helmet of an occupant, were located over the ocean within five days after the accident. At 10 p.m. of 13th, the heavily damaged main wreckage as well as one possible body was located at a little bit north of the lost site, 106 m deep under the sea level. A few more possible bodies were also found next morning. On the third attempt of saturation diving performed on 16th, five bodies were confirmed at the site and two of them were retrieved. Two more followed next day. The sixth body was found on 18th April. On 1st May, the sixth body was retrieved, however, it is unclear if this is the same body as the one found on 18th April. On 2nd May, the main wreckage which was divided into three was salvaged, and the FDR was recovered. Remaining four occupants are still missing.
On 24th May, a news paper reported on the cockpit voices recorded which shows that the crew attempted to deal with loss of engine power and corresponding warnings followed by anomalous engine sound just before the crash.
On 14th March 2024, the news release on the final report has been opened. The cause of the accident was loss of the No.1 engine power after the No.2 engine. The first loss of No.2 engine was due to a rere anomaly called "roll back" of the engine control system or pneumatic line. The reason of the second loss of No.1 engine could not be determined.

The UH-60JA belongs to 8th Aviation Wing, 8th Rapid Deployment Division. The division commander lieutenant general Yuichi Sakamoto, is one of the ten occupants of the accident flight.

The METAR reports at Miyako Airport around the time of the accident (06:56 UTC):
ROMY 060600Z 19014KT 9999 SCT020 SCT028 BKN160 25/20 Q1012
ROMY 060700Z 19013KT 9999 SCT020 BKN160 25/20 Q1011
ROMY 060800Z 18012KT 9999 FEW018 SCT030 25/20 Q1011
-----
The METAR reports at Shimojishima Airport nearby the accident site:
RORS 060600Z 19008KT 160V230 9999 FEW020 BKN160 25/21 Q1011
RORS 060700Z 19010KT 160V230 9999 FEW019 BKN170 26/21 Q1011
RORS 060800Z 18011KT 9999 FEW020 SCT170 25/20 Q1011

Sources:

Media:

An unused lifeboat, a door and other fragments believed to be from a Japanese army helicopter have been found after the Black Hawk carrying 10 crew members was presumed to have crashed at sea. https://t.co/mMhV0V0x27
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 7, 2023

06-APR-2023 UH-60JA Black Hawk 43106 Japan Ground Self-Defense Forcehttps://t.co/Dj0FQ8iUkP
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) May 29, 2023

Revision history:

Date/time Contributor Updates

06-Apr-2023 10:46 gerard57 Added

02-May-2023 05:08 isamuel Updated

24-May-2023 05:21 isamuel Updated

29-May-2023 09:50 Aerossurance Updated

04-Mar-2024 09:08 Anon. Updated [Source, Embed code]

14-Mar-2024 12:22 isamuel Updated [Source, Narrative]

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
06-Apr-2023 10:46	gerard57	Added
02-May-2023 05:08	isamuel	Updated
24-May-2023 05:21	isamuel	Updated
29-May-2023 09:50	Aerossurance	Updated
04-Mar-2024 09:08	Anon.	Updated [Source, Embed code]
14-Mar-2024 12:22	isamuel	Updated [Source, Narrative]

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