NTSB report details NBC Los Angeles helicopter’s final moments before crash that killed three

CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES: The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary findings into the deadly NBC Los Angeles helicopter crash that killed reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and a bystander.

The report details the aircraft’s final moments using live video and flight data, but investigators have not yet determined what caused the crash on September 15.

The helicopter had been covering a fatal traffic accident in Chatsworth when it suddenly began a rapid descent before hitting a metal storage container and catching fire.

NTSB details helicopter’s final moments

According to the NTSB report, the helicopter left Whiteman Airport in Pacoima at around 5:24 pm on September 15 for a news-gathering flight covering an SUV-on-bus collision.

The aircraft flew about nine miles west to Chatsworth and remained around the crash scene for about an hour and 24 minutes. Its average altitude during the flight was about 1,600 feet.

The situation changed during the final minute. The helicopter was flying at around 800 feet above ground level and had slowed to just 6 knots.

Investigators relied heavily on live video recorded from inside the helicopter. The recording was 4 minutes and 21 seconds long, with most of it showing what the NTSB described as normal operation.

But the final 29 seconds captured a noticeable change in the aircraft’s sound.

“The recording captured the helicopter noise as it changed frequency, along with intermittent and continuous horns, consistent with the helicopter’s main rotor high rpm, low rotor rpm and other aural advisories,” investigators said.

The audio has given investigators another piece of evidence as they work to understand what happened before the crash.

Three killed in NBC Los Angeles crash

The NTSB also used ADS-B flight data to track the helicopter’s movement during the final moments. The aircraft “began a rapid descent while turning right,” according to investigators.

The last available data point showed it traveling at 38 knots, or around 44 miles per hour, as it descended toward the ground.

The helicopter then struck a metal storage container. A post-accident fire broke out after the impact.

The crash killed NBC Los Angeles reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw and a tourist. A fourth person suffered minor injuries.

The deaths shocked the local news community, which mourned Moreno and Marciniw as longtime members of the air news crew.

NTSB reveals crash site debris details

Investigators who examined the crash site found a debris field stretching about 30 feet. The helicopter was lying partially on its right side after the impact.

Much of the aircraft remained together despite the crash, although the fire caused heavy damage.

“All major components remained attached to the fuselage or remained within the small debris area,” the NTSB report said.

“The fuselage, in its entirety, was mostly reduced to ash and thermally damaged metal. The tailboom separated but remained next to the fuselage. Both main and tail rotor assemblies remained attached at their respective mounting assemblies.”

The findings give a clearer picture of the wreckage and the aircraft’s final seconds, but they do not provide a definitive answer about why the helicopter went down.

Final crash report could take 18 months

The preliminary findings are not the NTSB’s final conclusion on the crash. Investigators have not yet established the definitive cause of the accident.

The agency’s final report could take up to 18 months to be released, meaning the investigation will continue as officials examine the evidence surrounding the deadly flight.