Why do US military choppers keep crashing?

Question

Aren't they really being shot down? Why don't civilian airliners keep crashing every couple of weeks?

Answer 1

I think Betty might have a point.

Beyond which flying a helicopter is notably more complicated than flying a commercial airplane where routes are predetermined and programmed into the computer and little diversion ever really occurs.

Answer 2

I reject the theory that they're being shot down and the information is being "hidden" or "suppressed"... it WOULD get out and then the military would look bad. Each time you see the Pentagon pointing that the DO investigate if it is combat or an accident.

Rotary wing aircraft have a FAR more complex system than fixed wing birds... and the risk of mechanical failure rises with that complexity. There are literally two hours of maintainence required for every hour of flight.

Also, those birds in Iraq / Afghanistan are flying day in and out... in combat conditions and in a rugged environment not conducive to the airframe and engine components.

I flew in US Navy Helo's (SH-60B & F) from 1985-1999 and in one YEAR we lost FOUR 60B's from mechanical failure (tail/intermediate gearbox). The US Army lost many UH-60's during their introduction (unshielded controls near power-lines) And of course the Navy/Marine CH-46 has a "delightful" crash record (I'd never fly in one).

Answer 3

Fixed wing planes are not as mechanically complicated as helicopters for one thing, so much can go wrong with so mayn systems! Also some of these crashes are probably happening while hovering which is a risky flight maneuver. Just the sheer number of helo's operating in a war zone I think... that and some shot down that our govt denies!

Answer 4

All rotor wing aircraft are more complicated and require more maintenance than fixed wing aircraft, and are more likely to to crash from mechanical issues than a fixed wing aircraft (your airliners). If you throw in the whole "people shooting at military helicopters" then those stats go up even more. An Army helicopter mechanic told me they do 5-10 hours of maintenance for every 1 hour a helicopter operates/flies.

Answer 5

I think its fair to say that some are shot down and the propaganda victory is denied to the enemy by reporting the downed aircraft as an accident.

However,the high speeds,low altitude ,first time missions,avoidance of enemy weaponsfire,strange territory and relatively large volume air traffic are all contributory factors.

Civilian airliners have simple routine flightpaths at high altitude with little deviance.
The helicopters mechanical principles are more complicated and are less robust in nature to those of aeroplanes.

Answer 6

Significant differences between fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Rotary wing aircraft operate closer to the ground, day & night, and are significantly more susceptible to changing wind conditions.

Their accident rates are higher than on fixed-wing aircraft. There are quite a lot of accidents that occur in peacetime training, too. So, it is not likely they are being shot down if that's not what is reported.

Answer 7

I think most ARE being shot down. They try to fool us by by keeping the truth quiet.

Answer 8

Have you been to iraq or afghanistan, or any middle eastern country near a desert? NO? Okay than, you know nothing of the weather conditions and how difficult it is to fly there, and the actual dynamics of a helicopter as it flys.

Answer 9

civilian airliners aren't flying over al-queda territory at 200 feet

Answer 10

Because they are receiving 2007 model