Recovery efforts continued over the weekend as divers scoured the Hudson River for wreckage from a Bell 206 L-4 helicopter that crashed Thursday, claiming six lives.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is spearheading the investigation, with experts now examining the helicopter’s flight control system at a secure facility.
The tragedy has drawn attention to the operator, New York Helicopter Charter Inc., which has faced maintenance issues in the past, raising questions about the company’s safety practices.
Search for Critical Components
Divers from the New York Police Department (NYPD) are searching for critical components, including the main rotor, main gearbox, tail rotor, and a large portion of the tail boom. These will give investigators a clearer idea of the cause of the crash.
Using side-scanning sonar to locate debris, the team planned to continue operations through Sunday. So far, they’ve retrieved the main fuselage, encompassing the cockpit and cabin, along with the forward tail boom, horizontal stabilizer finlets, and vertical fin.
Select parts are being shipped to NTSB laboratories in Washington, D.C., for in-depth analysis to uncover the crash’s cause.
Unlike commercial jets, the Bell 206 L-4 lacked flight recorders, such as a black box. Investigators confirmed no onboard video recorders, cameras, or avionics captured data useful for the probe.
This absence makes physical wreckage and operational records vital to the investigation. The NTSB is reviewing these elements to piece together what went wrong during the helicopter’s eighth tour flight of the day.
Previous Company Maintenance Concerns
New York Helicopter Charter Inc.’s history has come under scrutiny. In 2013, one of its Bell 206 helicopters suffered engine failure due to oil starvation from maintenance-related blockages.
This led to an emergency Hudson River landing. No injuries occurred, but the NTSB cited improper maintenance.
In 2015, a hard landing in New Jersey followed a spin-out caused by an “unairworthy” drive shaft, potentially linked to a prior incident and obscured by paint, raising oversight concerns.
Additionally, a 2016 lawsuit against a maintenance provider alleged negligence, though it ended in a stipulation agreement.
These incidents suggest past challenges in ensuring mechanical reliability. The company maintains it adheres to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards with experienced staff.
NTSB investigators met with company representatives to examine operational records, safety management systems, policies, and the pilot’s experience.
The pilot had completed seven flights before the crash, and the helicopter’s last major inspection was March 1, indicating routine maintenance.
To gain insight, investigators studied two exemplar Bell 206 L-4 helicopters for potential mechanical or design flaws.
Update: FAA Suspends New York Helicopter Tours
On 13 April, the FAA announced that New York Helicopter Tours operations have now been suspended. The announcement was made via the US regulator’s social media channels. Refer to our full story here.
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Investigation Continues
The investigation includes the FAA, Bell Helicopter, and Rolls-Royce, the engine manufacturer. The crash has sparked broader concerns about helicopter tour safety in urban areas like New York City.
Scenic flights are popular but operate in complex airspace. Past incidents, such as the 2019 East River crash that killed five, highlight the risks of such operations, often tied to maintenance or operational errors.
The NTSB’s methodical approach aims to prevent future tragedies. As divers recover more wreckage and labs analyze components, investigators will cross-reference findings with the company’s records and past incidents.
While no conclusions have been drawn, the focus on maintenance history underscores its critical role in aviation safety.
The NTSB will release updates as new information emerges, offering clarity to a grieving public and industry stakeholders.
