NTSB Preliminary Report: Deadly Hudson River Helicopter Crash

Preliminary Findings on Hudson River Helicopter Crash

• 📌 The NTSB has released a preliminary report on the deadly sightseeing helicopter crash into the Hudson River that occurred nearly a month ago.
• ⚠️ Five family members from Spain and the pilot were killed when the chopper plunged into the water.

Helicopter's Flight Path and Separation

• 🗺️ The helicopter departed from Wall Street Heliport around 3 PM on April 10th, flew north towards the George Washington Bridge, and broke apart over the Hudson River near Jersey City around 3:15 PM.
• 💥 The report confirms that the fuselage, main rotor system, and tail boom separated into three major sections mid-air, consistent with video evidence.

Pilot and Equipment Details

• 👨‍✈️ The pilot, Shawn Johnson, was reportedly wearing computer-augmented sunglasses with video and audio recording capabilities, though investigators do not believe these influenced his ability to fly.
• 🕶️ These recording sunglasses were not recovered during the wreckage recovery process.

Aircraft Maintenance and Future Investigation

• ✈️ The helicopter was on its eighth sightseeing trip of the day and had flown 50 hours since its last inspection.
• 🔍 Eyewitness accounts of loud bangs, video footage of the crash, and the recovered wreckage are considered critical evidence.
• ⏳ The NTSB anticipates that the final findings of the investigation could take one to two years to complete.
• 🚫 The helicopter was not equipped with a data recorder or "black box."