Helicopter Suddenly Broke into Three Pieces Before Crashing into Hudson River, Killing Tourist Family and Pilot: NTSB
Before crashing into the Hudson River back in April, the sightseeing helicopter separated into three parts, the NTSB said in a preliminary report
Surveillance video, along with audio, captured the Bell 206 chopper traveling south before it "suddenly separated into three major sections"
Pilot Seankese Carrell Johnson as well as Agustín Escobar, his wife and their three young children were killed in the crash
Authorities have revealed new details about what happened to the helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River in April, killing a tourist family of five and a pilot.
According to the NTSB report released on Wednesday, May 7, surveillance video and audio showed the Bell 206 chopper traveling south before it "suddenly separated into three major sections" and hit the water.
The major sections that investigators were able to recover were the helicopter's fuselage, which included the engine, the main rotor system as well as the tail boom.
"The fuselage came to rest, inverted, north of the Holland Tunnel ventilation towers where the water depth was about 6 ft," the NTSB wrote. Meanwhile the other sections were found submerged at a depth of around 30 feet.
Additionally, they wrote that more debris was found on the surface of the river as well as on the rooftop near the transit building in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu via Getty Police and firefighters work on the site after the helicopter crashed into the Hudson River.
The report went on to note that the helicopter was not equipped with any video or data recording devices, and that while pilot Seankese Carrell Johnson was photographed before take-off wearing computer-augmented sunglasses, which had video and audio recording capability, those glasses were not recovered.
Additionally, federal investigators said that at the time of the crash, Johnson had been working a "10 days on/10 days off" schedule — and that the day of the crash was his first day back after his most recent time off. That flight was the helicopter's eighth tour of the day. All were operated by Johnson.
Related: Brother of Woman Who Died in N.Y.C. Helicopter Crash Flies to U.S. to Identify Bodies, Vows to 'Never Forget' His Family Members
Agustín Escobar, his wife Mercè Camprubí Montal and their three young children — ages 10, 9 and 4 — were visiting New York City from Spain at the time of the crash.
A funeral for the family was held in Barcelona on Tuesday, April 22.
Related: Tourist Family of 5 Killed in Helicopter Crash Is Laid to Rest. Their Funeral Included a Touching Song Choice
On April 14, the sightseeing company that operated the helicopter received an emergency order of suspension ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to the other, Mr. Jason Costello, the Director of Operations of NY Helicopter, 'agreed that NY Helicopter would cease operations as requested' until investigations were complete.
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The preliminary report does not include a cause for the crash. A probable cause will not be determined until the NTBS releases their final report, which is likely still months away.
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