NTSB: Overloading, Pilot Error Caused Fatal 2011 East River Helicopter Crash
Three people suffered fatal injuries when the helicopter plunged into the East River shortly after takeoff the 34th Street helipad on Oct. 4, 2011.
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Three people suffered fatal injuries when the helicopter plunged into the East River shortly after takeoff the 34th Street helipad on Oct. 4, 2011.
A federal report released Thursday found a helicopter that crashed into the East River off New York City on a sightseeing tour last year, killing three passengers, was carrying too much weight.
Police said the chopper crashed Friday evening at about 6 p.m. Two people were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash.
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New details came to light Monday about a seemingly dangerous agreement between the Federal Aviation Administration and private helicopter tour companies.
Paul Dudley told his colleagues "I don't know why, I just know it happened very, very fast."
Is it safe to have such a high volume of helicopter traffic over our city? That's what many New York politicians want to know.
NTSB officials said the chopper likely did not have a flight data recorder, or "black box,'' but engine monitors and Global Positioning System navigation equipment may have stored useful information.
The crash happened at around 3:22 p.m., shortly after the chopper took off from the 34th Street helipad. Crews at the scene lifted the chopper out of the water Tuesday evening and were able to get it onto a recovery boat.
There was a thumbs up Wednesday night from the crew members who were aboard a malfunctioning NYPD helicopter that crash landed into Jamaica Bay earlier in the day.
