The absence of critical data is complicating the ongoing investigation into a tragic helicopter crash in New York City’s Hudson River. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed on Saturday that the Bell 206 L-4 tour helicopter, which went down Thursday, lacked any functioning flight recorders.
The accident claimed the lives of all six individuals aboard: a pilot and five members of a family visiting from Spain. Among those lost were Siemens executive Agustin Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal, and their three young children. Despite efforts by New York City Police Department divers to recover bodies and debris, no onboard video or camera recordings have been found that could aid in determining the cause of the crash.
“Everything is on the table,” stated an NTSB spokesperson, emphasizing the broad scope of the inquiry.
The investigation is currently focused on several key areas:
- Examining the helicopter’s flight control system.
- Analyzing recovered wreckage, including portions of the fuselage, cockpit, cabin, tail boom and stabilizer fins. These pieces are being sent to NTSB laboratories in Washington for detailed analysis.
- Searching for missing components, specifically the main rotor, gearbox, tail rotor, and a significant portion of the tail boom, utilizing side-scanning sonar technology. Recovery efforts are scheduled to continue Sunday.
NTSB investigators have already engaged with representatives from New York Helicopter Charter Inc., the tour operator, reviewing their operational records, safety protocols, management systems, and pilot experience.
According to the NTSB, two exemplar helicopters were also examined as part of this assessment. The ill-fated helicopter underwent its most recent major inspection on March 1st. Prior to Thursday’s accident, it had completed seven tour flights that day, making the eighth flight its final journey.
The investigation is a collaborative effort, involving:
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Bell Helicopter
- Rolls-Royce
Divers continue to scour the riverbed in hopes of recovering more wreckage and shedding light on what led to this devastating loss.
