Report Details Moments Before Fatal East River Helicopter Crash

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Federal investigators detailed the sequence of events that led up to an East River helicopter crash that killed the aircraft's five passengers and injured its pilot.

The National Transportation Safety Board released its primary investigation into the fatal March 11 crash on Monday. The report does not reveal the cause of the crash, but does paint a picture of the moments before the helicopter went down.

Pilot Richard Vance had flown multiple 15- to 30-minute sightseeing flights on March 11, according to federal investigators. Around 6:45 p.m. he received a text from photography tour company FlyNYON to schedule the eventual accident flight for 7 p.m., the NTSB report states.

After seating the passengers on the helicopter, securing them in their restraints and harnesses and going through a safety briefing, the flight took off from Kearny, New Jersey and headed toward the Statue of Liberty, Vance told investigators. From the Statue of Liberty, the helicopter continued up the East River toward the Brooklyn Bridge and Central Park, according to the NTSB report.

As the helicopter flew near the eastern side of Central Park, the front seat passenger slid toward Vance in an attempt to take a photo of his feet outside the helicopter, according to an NTSB report. At the same time, Vance attempted to make a right turn and the nose of the helicopter turned faster than expected, the pilot told investigators. The pilot then observed engine pressure and fuel pressure warning lights, which led him to believe the helicopter engine was failing.

The pilot considered landing the aircraft in Central Park, but figured there were too many people, investigators said. After concluding that a park landing was impossible, the pilot steered the helicopter toward the East River, unsure of whether he had enough speed to make it. While hovering above the East River, the pilot attempted to restart the helicopter engine, but was too close to the water's surface, according to the NTSB report.

Vance attempted to unscrew the harness of the front-seat passenger after crashing into the water, but decided to exit the helicopter when it started to roll over on its side, investigators said. The pilot grabbed the helicopter's door frame, surfaced about four-feet from the aircraft and stood on the belly of the helicopter and called for help.

The five passengers were secured into their seats by harnesses and had to be cut out of the aircraft by FDNY and NYPD divers, officials said. Three of the five passengers were taken to the hospital in critical condition and two were pronounced dead on the scene, Nigro said. The three people taken to the hospital were later pronounced dead, an NYPD spokesman said.

The NTSB is still investigating what led to the fatal crash. After inspecting the aircraft, investigators concluded that there were no signs of oil or fuel leaks, according to the NTSB report. The helicopter's fuel shutoff lever was found in the open position, but investigators did not conclude that was the reason for the crash

The victims of the crash were identified as Tristian Hill and Daniel Thompson of New York; Brian McDaniel and Trevor Cadigan of Texas; and Carla Vallejos Blanco of Argentina, the Police Department said.

Photo by Chris O’Neil/NTSB