New York Helicopter Tour Company Faces Scrutiny After Fatal Hudson River Crash

A New York City-based helicopter tour company is under scrutiny following a fatal crash on Thursday. Records from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reveal that the company, New York Helicopter Charter, has a history of aircraft malfunctions.

New York Helicopter Charter has been providing helicopter tours of New York City and New Jersey for over three decades. The company operated the Bell 206 aircraft involved in the recent crash in the Hudson River, which resulted in the deaths of all six people on board.

According to NTSB records, New York Helicopter Charter was involved in two prior incidents. One occurred in 2013, when an engine failed during a flight with five people on board. Another incident in 2015 involved a pilot making a "hard landing" shortly after takeoff.

In the 2013 incident, the helicopter lost engine power while carrying a family of four near the 79th Street Boat Basin. The pilot deployed floats and landed in the Hudson River. No one on board was seriously injured. An investigation determined that "improper maintenance" led to the engine failure.

Following the 2013 incident, New York Helicopter Charter sued the company responsible for repairing the helicopter, alleging negligence. The case was seemingly resolved through a stipulation agreement, but the terms remain undisclosed.

In the 2015 incident, a pilot was forced to make a "hard landing" after the helicopter began to spin out of control shortly after lifting off. The NTSB found that the helicopter's shafts were in poor condition.

The NTSB is currently investigating the recent fatal crash. Videos of the incident appear to show the helicopter's blades detaching before it plunged into the river. The passengers included an executive from Siemens, his wife, and their three children.

The owner of New York Helicopter Charter stated he had no information regarding the cause of the crash and expressed devastation. The company's website states that it employs only "experienced professionals" as pilots.

Helicopter tours in New York City are a popular tourist activity, but they also carry inherent risks. Over the past four decades, numerous fatalities have occurred in accidents. Local lawmakers have sought to regulate these tours, citing noise pollution. While a deal was reached to limit flights, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) remains the primary regulatory body for airspace.