Aircraft Went Down In The East River Fatally Injuring Five Passengers

The NTSB continued its investigation Tuesday into the March 11, 2018 accident involving an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 (N350LH) that went down in New York’s East River.

The helicopter was substantially damaged when it impacted the river and subsequently rolled inverted during an autorotation, fatally injuring five passengers and injuring the pilot.

The pilot had contacted the LaGuardia Airport air traffic control tower for entry into the Class B airspace while flying at an altitude of 2,000 feet. Approximately five minutes later, the pilot declared “Mayday” and stated that the helicopter’s engine had failed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled 30-minute aerial photography flight that was operated by Liberty Helicopters under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight originated from Helo Kearny Heliport (65NJ), Kearny, New Jersey.

Parties to the NTSB investigation are the FAA, Liberty Helicopters and the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la sécurité de l'aviation civile (BEA France). Airbus Helicopters and Safran Helicopter Engines are technical advisors to the investigation.

Significant activities this week included:

• Physical examination of the accident helicopter at New York Police Department’s Aviation Unit
• headquarters in Brooklyn by airworthiness, powerplant, and survival factors investigator
• Engine was prepared for removal and teardown
• Helicopter structure and systems examined by airworthiness investigators.
• Rotor and flight control systems examination initiated
• Survival factors investigators examined and documented passenger restraint system
• Investigators interviewed Liberty Helicopters’ chief pilot
• Interviewed witnesses and rescue personnel
• Interview with accident pilot to be scheduled
• NTSB’s Transportation Disaster Assistance team consulted with NYPD regarding personal effects
• Recovered electronic devices, including a Go-Pro camera, which is being sent to the NTSB laboratories in Washington for readout
• Recovered Appareo Vision 1000 from helicopter. Unit and memory card were placed in water for transport to NTSB laboratories. The Vision 100 could provide data on pitch, roll, and yaw as well as position, vertical speed, ground speed and altitude and ambient sound

(Source: NTSB news release. Images provided via Flickr)

FMI: www.ntsb.gov