Army Apache crash rate hits historic high as transmission problems persist
The U.S. Army is seeing one of the highest Apache attack helicopter crash rates in more than a decade, and a persistent transmission problem has emerged as a central point of investigation.
A review of Army aviation safety data shows the service has logged five major Apache crashes so far in fiscal year 2026, which began Oct. 1. The most recent, earlier this month near Fort Hood, Texas, killed two soldiers, ignited a wildfire and prompted the Army to suspend routine Apache training flights for nearly two weeks. That pause ended Wednesday, with deployed units exempted.
If the current pace continues, this budget year is likely to rank as the second worst for Apache flight accidents since the Army introduced the AH-64E model in 2011. The worst year so far was fiscal 2024, when nine major crashes occurred across the Apache fleet.
In Army terminology, a Class A mishap is any accident that results in a death, permanent disability, loss of an aircraft, or more than $2.5 million in damage. Based on flight hours reported by the service, CNN estimates the Apache fleet's current major crash rate at about 6.24 per 100,000 hours. That is just below the 7.02 rate recorded in fiscal 2024, but far above typical years.
Army leaders blamed much of the 2024 spike on pilot error linked to less experienced crews and a more demanding training environment after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This year's trend is harder to explain. An internal Army safety magazine noted in July that just over half of Apache accidents, including minor incidents, were tied primarily to human error. But the same publication said a "catastrophic transmission failure" had been identified in one Class A mishap.
The transmission issue has become a growing concern for the AH-64E fleet. Two internal safety notices obtained by CNN identified at least 80 potentially faulty transmissions that could cripple the helicopter's tail rotor, electrical power, and hydraulics, causing a sudden spin and potential loss of flight controls. The initial notice in April grounded all affected Apaches, and a follow-up in mid-July expanded that list while saying the root cause was still under investigation. The combined orders affected roughly 10 percent of the Army's attack helicopter fleet.
Boeing, the Apache's manufacturer, has sent teams to Army maintenance depots to help inspect and repair the suspect parts. A Boeing spokesperson said the company is supporting the Army's investigation but referred detailed questions to the service. The Army has declined to say how many of the affected helicopters have returned to flight, citing investigative constraints and safety review protections.
The timing of the training pause and the grounding orders has added new pressure to an aviation fleet already stretched by operational commitments overseas and a broader military focus on major combat readiness. Congressional attention on helicopter safety is likely to intensify as the Army balances pilot proficiency against the need to ground potentially dangerous aircraft. The Texas crash remains under investigation, and the Army has said the presence of safety notices in its paperwork does not mean those issues caused the accident.