The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that helicopter that crashed into the Hudson lacked flight recorders. The crash including a Bell 206 helicopter tragically killed all six occupants, including three children. The agency confirmed late Saturday that no video or data recording devices had been recovered. Furthermore, there was no onboard equipment which captured information relevant to the investigation.
In a swift response, the FAA announced on Sunday that New York Helicopter Tours, the operator, is ceasing operations immediately. The FAA will also conduct an immediate review of the company’s license and safety record. Furthermore, the FAA is analysing helicopter safety ‘hotspots’ nationwide and will hold a safety panel on April 22nd.
Recovered parts, including the cockpit, cabin, and tail section components, are being analyzed by the NTSB. Investigators have also examined similar helicopters. They furthermore met with New York Helicopter Charter, the operator, to review operational procedures and the pilot’s history. The absence of flight recorders complicates the investigation into the cause of this tragic accident. In the meantime, the NTSB and FAA continue their work to understand the sequence of events.
Hudson
The helicopter, carrying a Siemens AG executive, his wife, and three children, underwent its last major inspection on March 1st. It had even completed seven tours before the crash. The flight originated from a downtown heliport around 3:00 p.m. last Thursday. The helicopter flew north along the Hudson, turned south near the George Washington Bridge. It subsequently crashed near Lower Manhattan around 3:15 p.m.