The pilot of a tourist helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River could not have saved himself or the five passengers after the rotor blades and tail boom detached. The crash killed the pilot and all passengers, including a Siemens executive and his family. Investigators are still examining the wreckage and interviewing witnesses, looking into possible structural or impact failures that led to the tail rotor detachment. Experts believe the crash was a result of a rare structural failure, as the Bell 206 helicopter involved is not typically put under aggressive stress. The National Transportation Safety Board is requesting any photos or videos of the incident to aid in the investigation. While the cause of the crash remains unknown, one possible explanation is a “mast bump” that occurs when excessive flapping of rotor blades causes the hub to contact the rotor mast. The NTSB has found in the past that photos and videos from witnesses can significantly help in investigations, as was the case in a mid-air collision in Ketchikan in 2019. Despite the tragic incident, experts emphasize that such fatal crashes are rare, and further investigation is needed to determine the exact cause of the helicopter’s breakup.
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