Takeaways
The Los Angeles helicopter crash killed three people in Chatsworth, while federal aviation authorities prepare to investigate what caused the accident.
Los Angeles Helicopter Crash Leaves Three Dead
The Los Angeles NBC News helicopter crash killed three people after an aircraft went down in the Chatsworth area of the San Fernando Valley on the evening of Sept. 15, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Federal aviation authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
The helicopter crashed between commercial buildings near the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue at about 7 p.m. local time, according to local authorities. The impact triggered a fire that damaged several vehicles and storage containers in the area. More than 50 firefighters responded to the scene, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
The accident occurred near the location of an earlier collision involving an SUV and a Los Angeles city bus. That separate crash had already prompted emergency crews to operate in the area. Officials have not indicated that the two incidents were connected.
Emergency Response in Chatsworth
Los Angeles firefighters arrived after reports that a helicopter had gone down between commercial structures. The aircraft came down in or near a parking area, with the resulting fire exposing parked vehicles and other property to the flames.
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that four people were assessed at the scene. Three were pronounced dead, while another person was transported to a local hospital. The condition of the hospitalized person was not immediately available.
Firefighters extinguished the post-crash fire while emergency personnel worked around the wreckage. Local officials said the helicopter was heavily damaged, making it necessary to examine the debris to determine the number of people who had been aboard.
At least one of those killed was outside the helicopter, according to comments from an LAFD spokesperson reported by multiple news organizations. That distinction is important because investigators were still working to establish the complete number and identity of those involved.
News Helicopter Was Covering Nearby Crash
Local reporting identified the aircraft as a television news helicopter operating in the area while crews covered the earlier vehicle collision. The Associated Press reported that the helicopter was operated by NBC Los Angeles through Angel City Air.
The proximity of the helicopter accident to the earlier roadway crash is therefore significant to understanding the operational context. However, the available information does not establish that coverage of the earlier incident caused or contributed to the helicopter crash.
Investigators will need to establish the aircraft’s flight path, operating conditions, crew actions, weather, maintenance history and other relevant factors before any conclusions can be reached.
FAA and NTSB Investigation
The Los Angeles helicopter crash investigation will involve the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department and Reuters.
The NTSB generally leads investigations of major U.S. aviation accidents when it is involved, while the FAA provides regulatory and technical support. The FAA says preliminary accident information can change as additional evidence becomes available and directs investigators and the public to the NTSB for cases in which the board is conducting the investigation.
At this stage, officials have not announced a probable cause.
That means reports attributing the crash to mechanical failure, pilot error, weather, visibility, operational pressure or another specific factor would be premature unless supported by evidence released by investigators.
The investigation is expected to examine the wreckage and other available evidence. Depending on what investigators recover, relevant areas could include aircraft systems, flight-control components, engine condition, maintenance records, operational procedures, communications and flight-tracking information.
Why the Investigation Matters
Helicopter operations in urban environments can involve complex factors, including confined operating areas, nearby structures, other aircraft, ground traffic and changing visual conditions. Electronic news-gathering operations can add another operational consideration because helicopters may operate close to areas where major breaking-news events are occurring.
The NTSB has previously investigated helicopter accidents involving electronic news-gathering operations and has issued safety recommendations concerning operational procedures, pilot workload, aircraft separation and traffic awareness. Those previous investigations, however, do not establish a cause for the current Los Angeles accident.
The current investigation will need to be assessed on its own evidence.
The FAA maintains preliminary accident and incident information and notes that early data is subject to change. The agency also maintains rotorcraft safety information and directs aviation accident records and investigation information toward the appropriate federal databases.
What Happens Next
The immediate priority for investigators will be documenting the crash site and recovering evidence needed to reconstruct the final moments of the flight.
Investigators will also establish the aircraft’s identity, operator, crew information and operational status, subject to official confirmation. The condition of the wreckage could affect how quickly investigators can establish what happened.
The NTSB will ultimately determine the probable cause if it conducts the full investigation. Such determinations normally require a detailed examination of physical evidence, operational records and other investigative findings.
For now, the confirmed facts are limited: three people died following the helicopter crash in Chatsworth, another person was transported to a hospital, and the FAA and NTSB are expected to investigate.
The Los Angeles helicopter crash investigation remains ongoing, and additional information is expected as federal investigators and local authorities release verified findings.
