NY - Helicopter carrying Spanish tourists crashes into the Hudson River, all six killed, 10 Apr 2025

[iamshadow21]

Hudson helicopter crash pilot was Navy SEALs veteran, 36,

Sean Johnson, 36, had recently moved to New York to begin his aviation career.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Finally some news about the pilot.

How truly terrible. He seems to have had an illustrious career.

IMO

However this investigation plays out, I can't see that reputation being tarnished at all. All indications are that there's nothing he could have done (or not done) to change the outcome.

Whether this could have been prevented by better maintenance remains to be seen, but as a pilot, he wouldn't have been responsible for that.

Sleep well, Sean.

MOO

 

[Arkay]

However this investigation plays out, I can't see that reputation being tarnished at all. All indications are that there's nothing he could have done (or not done) to change the outcome.

Whether this could have been prevented by better maintenance remains to be seen, but as a pilot, he wouldn't have been responsible for that.

Sleep well, Sean.

MOO

Agree completely.

He had nothing to do with the rotor, tail etc. falling off mid-flight and twirling rapidly into the river.

The CEO seems suitably heartbroken.

The pilot was flying a much less complex vehicle than he’d flown in the military, and he was well-trained according to the article.

Therefore IMO as of now, it would have to be a maintenance issue.

Somewhat like how both the Challenger and Columbia space shuttles were destroyed, the first by an O-ring failure in the cold, and the second by a piece of insulation that flew off and damaged the heat shield.

The little things that can be overlooked.

Tragedy all around and we will eventually know the cause.

R.I.P. Sean, R.I.P., Escobar family.

ETA: I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I have a tiny bit of satisfaction that they at least circled the Statue of Liberty before they died. I imagine it was on their wish list of NYC things to do.

I know I’m stupid since they died moments after, but I hope it brought them some joy.

JMO

 

[iamshadow21]

Agree completely.

He had nothing to do with the rotor, tail etc. falling off mid-flight and twirling rapidly into the river.

The CEO seems suitably heartbroken.

The pilot was flying a much less complex vehicle than he’d flown in the military, and he was well-trained according to the article.

Therefore IMO as of now, it would have to be a maintenance issue.

Somewhat like how both the Challenger and Columbia space shuttles were destroyed, the first by an O-ring failure in the cold, and the second by a piece of insulation that flew off and damaged the heat shield.

The little things that can be overlooked.

Tragedy all around and we will eventually know the cause.

R.I.P. Sean, R.I.P., Escobar family.

ETA: I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I have a tiny bit of satisfaction that they at least circled the Statue of Liberty before they died. I imagine it was on their wish list of NYC things to do.

I know I’m stupid since they died moments after, but I hope it brought them some joy.

JMO

It's not stupid. Very few of us know when we're going to go, and all we can do is make the best of the time we have. I don't know whose idea the helicopter ride was, but I've read the eight year old had a birthday. Perhaps it was her present. If so, I hope she enjoyed every second of it and that what happened happened so swiftly that none of them had time to feel fear.

MOO

 

[GraceG]

I've just seen the video and some still photos from the news channels but it does look as if they lost part of the main rotorblade or all of it (video quality was poor and I'm a fixed wing, not helicopter ATP, so bear that in mind.) I don't know enough from the news to have any knowledge if it's a similar event but this made me recall an incident involving that same make and model (EMS helicopter in Indiana in late August of 2008, part of a blade failed, which then, if I remember correctly may have also struck the tail boom, but all aboard died on impact.) www.ntsb.gov (public) has the report of that accident. Click on "Safety Research" on the dark blue top bar, then select "Accident Data" from the drop down, then click on "CAROL" (all caps light blue active link) then scroll down to "additional resources" and click on "monthly lists" and go to August 2008 and look for NTSB # CHI08FA269 in Greensburg, IN. The Docket link has the AD and all the case information and photos. (I've attached a screenshot of the AD, which does include the serial number of the New York rotorcraft involved in this current accident.

From the August 2008 accident: "The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The in-flight separation of a main rotor blade due to a fatigue failure of the blade spar, rendering the helicopter uncontrollable, and the manufacturer's production of main rotorblades with latent manufacturing defects, which precipitated the fatigue failure of the bladespar."

I'm NOT SAYING THIS IS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT, since the AD was published in 2009 it would be highly unusual that it wasn't complied with and fairly easy for investigators to confirm with copies of the maintenance records.

FAA Initial Notification (public website) https://www.asias.faa.gov/ (bottom of the page "accident and incident data" then go to "preliminary data" and look for the ASAIS link to view data for 4-11 (they always post the day AFTER the even, or on Mondays for the previous weekend).

FAA Aircraft Inquiry (public website) https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=216MH

N216MH Bell 206L--4 Serial Number 52296

My heart goes out to the families, the colleagues of the pilot, and the first responders.

 

[mickey2942]

Reminds me of the helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant and his daughter. Very sad. I am not a fan of sightseeing tours in small planes or helicopters.

It doesn't happen often. But often enough for me to think twice about it.

 

[nextgen.truth.hunters]

How about the crash today in Florida?! hinky that it seems like planes have just been dropping out of the sky lately... as a whole it's mind boggling and reeks of Gov BS

 

[steeltowngirl]

I really don't know if the number of crashes have truly increased. It feels that way, but I am also recognizing that media highlights news stories that bring in the audience. It does rattle me, though.

Prayers up for the young family whose lives were lost in this crash.

jmo

 

[Charlot123]

Hudson helicopter crash pilot was Navy SEALs veteran, 36,

Sean Johnson, 36, had recently moved to New York to begin his aviation career.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Finally some news about the pilot.

How truly terrible. He seems to have had an illustrious career.

IMO

Horrible. An illustrious career, a good education, a family, on his way to be a commercial pilot.

RIP, Sean Jonson.

 

[Charlot123]

.

I've just seen the video and some still photos from the news channels but it does look as if they lost part of the main rotorblade or all of it (video quality was poor and I'm a fixed wing, not helicopter ATP, so bear that in mind.) I don't know enough from the news to have any knowledge if it's a similar event but this made me recall an incident involving that same make and model (EMS helicopter in Indiana in late August of 2008, part of a blade failed, which then, if I remember correctly may have also struck the tail boom, but all aboard died on impact.) www.ntsb.gov (public) has the report of that accident. Click on "Safety Research" on the dark blue top bar, then select "Accident Data" from the drop down, then click on "CAROL" (all caps light blue active link) then scroll down to "additional resources" and click on "monthly lists" and go to August 2008 and look for NTSB # CHI08FA269 in Greensburg, IN. The Docket link has the AD and all the case information and photos. (I've attached a screenshot of the AD, which does include the serial number of the New York rotorcraft involved in this current accident.

From the August 2008 accident: "The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The in-flight separation of a main rotor blade due to a fatigue failure of the blade spar, rendering the helicopter uncontrollable, and the manufacturer's production of main rotorblades with latent manufacturing defects, which precipitated the fatigue failure of the bladespar."

I'm NOT SAYING THIS IS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT, since the AD was published in 2009 it would be highly unusual that it wasn't complied with and fairly easy for investigators to confirm with copies of the maintenance records.

FAA Initial Notification (public website) https://www.asias.faa.gov/ (bottom of the page "accident and incident data" then go to "preliminary data" and look for the ASAIS link to view data for 4-11 (they always post the day AFTER the even, or on Mondays for the previous weekend).

FAA Aircraft Inquiry (public website) https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=216MH

N216MH Bell 206L--4 Serial Number 52296

My heart goes out to the families, the colleagues of the pilot, and the first responders.

I have a question. Isn’t fatigue failure in this case related to metal fatigue?

 

[Aston 2017]

Did the crash kill them or its possible that some of them might drowned?

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I really don't know if the number of crashes have truly increased. It feels that way, but I am also recognizing that media highlights news stories that bring in the audience. It does rattle me, though.

Prayers up for the young family whose lives were lost in this crash.

jmo

There was tourist chopper which crashed killing all on board in Grand Canyon a few years ago, but that was judged to be down to the pilot losing control rather than mechanical issues.

 

[Elley Mae]

So so terrible.

Jesus clip.

Jesus clip I ssid to hubby after hearing/seeing blades fly off, he looked st me weird. Years ago someone told me a story about jesus clips.

Why the so-called ‘Jesus nut’ could be a key piece of evidence in Hudson River helicopter crash

A fist-sized piece of steel known as the “Jesus nut” could be a crucial piece of evidence in the horrific helicopter crash that killed a Spanish family of five and their pilot.

nypost.com

 

[ASipowicz]

A terrifying read ... the owner of New York Helicopter Charter played Russian Roulette with the pilots and tourists. There was a known issue with the doomed copter. How did this guy sleep at night? Before a Fatal Helicopter Crash, 2 Midair Breakdowns and Unpaid Bills

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Such a tragic loss. I feel for all of their relatives and friends.

@ASipowicz
So the helicopter had a known issue in September. But the article doesn't get into the service history between September and now. I wonder if the owner believed it had been fixed?

 

[Knox]

A terrifying read ... the owner of New York Helicopter Charter played Russian Roulette with the pilots and tourists. There was a known issue with the doomed copter. How did this guy sleep at night? Before a Fatal Helicopter Crash, 2 Midair Breakdowns and Unpaid Bills

Wow, that was quite a through history of the business and its owner. Based on the financial difficulties, it’s not hard to imagine he may have tried to cover up mechanical issues in order to keep the business afloat.

In my world we use heavy equipment daily. If metal fragments or any other debris show up in a filter. The machine is red tagged until we to the bottom of the problem.

Maybe @GraceG knows the answer. If mechanical issues are discovered. What’s the process? Is there some sort of FAA notification? Or are these issues only revealed/noted through agency inspections?

 

[Charlot123]

This is not MSM, but I follow one NYC teacher. When the tragedy was discussed, another man, a tourist, commented on his page that he was taking a flight on "the same" helicopter on April 1st and noticed that "the turbulence was unusual". He said to the pilot that the rotor might be "unbalanced" but the pilot paid no attention. I don't know what to make of it but keep a screenshot of the post and the photo of the helicopter he flew in just in case. Advised this unknown man to report it to the NTSB commission, not just post, he has photos. JMO, it is the company's fault unless it is a brand new helicopter, but to understand what happened is important. ETA: horribly sorry for the family. RIP. I can't even imagine the events if the helicopter fell anywhere else in the city.

To add to my previous post: I found on (*a very big site*) the email for witnesses and posted it on the Facebook of the person who flew this helicopter 10 days ago.

Asking him to get in touch with them. I don’t know what he’ll do, but he added a video that he took, for me. From the video, it looks not like the rotor blades. I have no idea about helicopter parts, but in different models it is called either “rotor mast” or “drive shaft”. It Bell it seems to be longer so I’d stick with “drive shaft”.
Well, that part looked somewhat loose in the socket.

I guess I can copy a video and send it to NTSB witnesses email?

 

[GraceG]

.


I have a question. Isn’t fatigue failure in this case related to metal fatigue?

Yes. The textbook definition is “Metal fatigue is the progressive and localized structural damage that occurs when metal is subjected to loading and unloading, called cycles.” Basically, if the loads on the blade are above a certain threshold or the cycles continue beyond what is normally the life limit of a particular component, a crack may (and probably will IMO) start to form at the molecular level and grow until you have actual metal failure from the fatigue. And when that happens it’s not like a slow rip like a growing tear in a piece of fabric. Instead think of the breaking of a piece of glass over the edge of a sharp surface. (Fatigue crack growth followed by ductile overload separation.)

Components have life limits and there are margins built into fatigue life calculations so you can’t say the component may fail at “x” number of hours and if you don’t exceed that you’re golden. But how a helicopter is flown, the areas a pilot can control, can dramatically affect the loads over time the aircraft has to endure. Basically - weight, speed, and power. Exceeding max gross weight (not usually a factor in sightseeing flights, but we don’t know the history of the flying this craft has done), flying about VNE (never exceed speed, a "no no" from a Cessna 150 to a 777) and pulling too much manifold pressure (and combinations of those three) can increase the loads that reduce fatigue limits, and may result in early (premature) failure.

I won’t conjecture if metal fatigue played a part in this, just not enough information is known to the public, could be transmission and/or whole blade assembly issue. I wish I had more experience on RW crashes, but I hope this helps.

 

[Elley Mae]

Exclusive | Sen. Schumer calls for FAA to revoke license for helicopter company in Hudson River crash that killed 6

The New York Democrat is raising the issue of “Part 91” licenses, which New York Helicopter was using to operate when its chopper with five tourists from Spain “split in half” in midair…

nypost.com

 

[sds71]

(AP) — FAA says the helicopter company whose sightseeing chopper crashed, killing six, is shutting down operations immediately.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1911598556948975911

 

[acutename]

Yes. The textbook definition is “Metal fatigue is the progressive and localized structural damage that occurs when metal is subjected to loading and unloading, called cycles.” Basically, if the loads on the blade are above a certain threshold or the cycles continue beyond what is normally the life limit of a particular component, a crack may (and probably will IMO) start to form at the molecular level and grow until you have actual metal failure from the fatigue. And when that happens it’s not like a slow rip like a growing tear in a piece of fabric. Instead think of the breaking of a piece of glass over the edge of a sharp surface. (Fatigue crack growth followed by ductile overload separation.)

Components have life limits and there are margins built into fatigue life calculations so you can’t say the component may fail at “x” number of hours and if you don’t exceed that you’re golden. But how a helicopter is flown, the areas a pilot can control, can dramatically affect the loads over time the aircraft has to endure. Basically - weight, speed, and power. Exceeding max gross weight (not usually a factor in sightseeing flights, but we don’t know the history of the flying this craft has done), flying about VNE (never exceed speed, a "no no" from a Cessna 150 to a 777) and pulling too much manifold pressure (and combinations of those three) can increase the loads that reduce fatigue limits, and may result in early (premature) failure.

I won’t conjecture if metal fatigue played a part in this, just not enough information is known to the public, could be transmission and/or whole blade assembly issue. I wish I had more experience on RW crashes, but I hope this helps.

do not know the regs or manufacturers' requirements for helicopters, but a lot of other mechanical components of things get X-rayed to check for this type of wear/damage IMO