Fatal Philadelphia news helicopter crash spotlights dangers of chopper reporting

[Jack Alymer]

A TRAGEDY INVOLVING A HELICOPTER FROM ABC’S PHILADELPHIA STATION THIS WEEK IS PUTTING A SPOTLIGHT ON THE DANGERS NEWS CREWS FACE WHEN TAKING TO THE SKIES TO GET THE STORY.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE PILOT AND A PHOTOGRAPHER FROM WPVI WERE THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE ON BOARD THE CHOPPER WHEN IT WENT DOWN IN A WOODED AREA OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NEW JERSEY, KILLING BOTH. STATE POLICE DISCOVERED THE WRECKAGE EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

THE HELICOPTER WAS A 2013 AMERICAN EUROCOPTER AS-350A-STAR, WHICH THE STATION LEASES FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA-BASED COMPANY. U.S. HELICOPTERS INCORPORATED.  WPVI REPORTS THE COMPANY IS REACHING OUT TO THE VICTIM’S FAMILIES.

THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD IS LEADING THE INVESTIGATION.

[TODD GUNTHER | NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE]

“NOW WHAT TEAM AND I WILL BE DOING IS WE’RE GOING TO BE ON SCENE FOR ABOUT THE NEXT THREE DAYS. WE’LL BE LOOKING AT WHAT WE CALL THE ‘MAN, MACHINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACE,’ AND WE’LL BE LOOKING AT ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT OR MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSAL.”

[Jack Alymer]

THE FATAL CRASH OF THE PHILADELPHIA NEWS CHOPPER IS ONE OF SEVERAL THE NTSB HAS INVESTIGATED IN JUST THE PAST COUPLE OF DECADES.

IN MAY 2004, A HELICOPTER WITH NEW YORK’S WNBC STATION WAS COVERING A  TRIPLE SHOOTING IN BROOKLYN WHEN IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED ONTO THE ROOF OF AN APARTMENT BUILDING. IN THIS CASE, THE PILOT AND A REPORTER ON BOARD SURVIVED BUT SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE NTSB CONCLUDED A LOSS IN THE CHOPPER’S HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PROBLEM LED TO THE CRASH.

IN JULY 2007, TWO HELICOPTERS FROM COMPETING STATIONS COLLIDED WHILE COVERING A POLICE CHASE IN PHOENIX. TWO PILOTS AND TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS WERE KILLED. THE NTSB DETERMINED THE PROBABLE CAUSE WAS BOTH PILOTS FAILING TO SEE AND AVOID ONE ANOTHER.

IN MARCH 2014, A PILOT AND A NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER WERE KILLED WHEN MOMENTS AFTER THEIR CHOPPER LIFTED FROM THE ROOF OF A SEATTLE STATION, IT STRUCK TWO CARS AND BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CAUSE WAS A LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BOOST TO THE TAIL ROTOR AND MAIN ROTOR CONTROLS, ACCORDING TO THE NTSB.

IN SEPTEMBER 2017, A VETERAN TV REPORTER AT AN ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO STATION DIED AFTER THE HELICOPTER HE WAS PILOTING CRASHED. THE NTSB INVESTIGATION SUGGESTING THE PILOT MAY HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED DURING THE FLIGHT.

LAST NOVEMBER, A PILOT AND A METEOROLOGIST FROM A CHARLOTTLE NBC AFFILIATE WERE KILLED WHEN THEIR HELICOPTER CRASHED NEAR I-77. THE LOCAL POLICE CHIEF SAID THE PILOT WAS A HERO AFTER WITNESSES SAW HIM SEEM TO MANEUVER THE PLANE FROM CRASHING INTO THE HIGHWAY. ACCORDING TO THE NTSB, THE PILOT WAS TRAINING THE METEOROLOGIST IN A SIMULATED NEWS SCENE AT THE TIME.

THE NTSB SAID IT WOULD RELEASE A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE PHILADELPHIA NEWS HELICOPTER CRASH WITH THE NEXT 10 DAYS WITH A FINAL REPORT COMING AROUND 18 MONTHS LATER.