Updated
Updated · KABC-TV · Sep 16
NTSB Calls NBC4 Crash Video Key Evidence in 3-Death Helicopter Probe
Updated
Updated · KABC-TV · Sep 16

NTSB Calls NBC4 Crash Video Key Evidence in 3-Death Helicopter Probe

3 articles · Updated · KABC-TV · Sep 16

Summary

  • Aboard video from the NBC4 helicopter is now the NTSB's top lead, with investigators seeking a pristine copy for lab analysis after Tuesday's Chatsworth crash killed 3.
  • Audio on the recording appears to capture engine speed changes and likely pilot warning tones, evidence investigators say could help determine whether a mechanical failure preceded the crash.
  • Investigators are also collecting witness accounts, nearby surveillance footage, wreckage data, maintenance logbooks and weather records before moving the helicopter to a secure facility for further examination.
  • The Bell helicopter went down around 7 p.m. between commercial buildings near an earlier fatal Metro bus crash, killing reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and 29-year-old Edy Gutierrez Mejia on the ground.
  • A preliminary report is due in 30 days, while the final probable-cause finding could take up to 18 months.

Insights

What hidden clues in the NBC4 helicopter's final audio recording could expose the true cause of the deadly Chatsworth crash?
Could a desperate, last-second autorotation maneuver have saved the news crew before their aircraft plunged into a crowded Los Angeles street?
With advanced drones available, why are news crews still risking their lives in vulnerable helicopters over densely populated urban areas?