NYC helicopter crash 10th June 2019
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After an early review of evidence, investigators believe that the pilot had been stuck on the ground at the 34th Street heliport along the East River because of poor weather, but saw an opening and headed for his base in New Jersey by traveling south along the river, according to a senior city official who was briefed on the preliminary findings but not authorized to discuss them publicly. At the time, the cloud ceiling was about 700 feet. Shortly after taking off, however, the pilot changed course, apparently intending to go back to the heliport. Instead, the helicopter rose into the clouds and flew at high speed into the roof of the Midtown building. The height of the roof was roughly the same as the cloud ceiling.
The pilot was not qualified to fly using only instruments, the official said, cautioning that the investigation was still at an early stage. There apparently were no radio communications between the pilot and any air traffic control towers in the vicinity, the official said...
The accident happened only 11 minutes after the helicopter took off from the heliport. The helicopter’s home base was an airport in Linden, N.J., where Paul Dudley, the airport manager, identified the pilot as Tim McCormack. He said Mr. McCormack worked for American Continental Properties, a real estate concern that said he had flown for the company for five years.
The pilot was not qualified to fly using only instruments, the official said, cautioning that the investigation was still at an early stage. There apparently were no radio communications between the pilot and any air traffic control towers in the vicinity, the official said...
The accident happened only 11 minutes after the helicopter took off from the heliport. The helicopter’s home base was an airport in Linden, N.J., where Paul Dudley, the airport manager, identified the pilot as Tim McCormack. He said Mr. McCormack worked for American Continental Properties, a real estate concern that said he had flown for the company for five years.
On ABC news they're saying the pilot was having some kind of problem and chose to set it down on top of the building to save lives on the ground, and people are calling him a hero and the greatest pilot ever!
Other reports talk about VFR into IMC and he simply crashed into the building because he was too low scuddrunning.
Never seen so much speculation so quickly before!
Other reports talk about VFR into IMC and he simply crashed into the building because he was too low scuddrunning.
Never seen so much speculation so quickly before!
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Looking at Webtrak, there is another erratic flight path in the same area for a couple of minutes before the one MikeNYC has kindly posted. At one point airspeed is shown with a minus figure. I wonder if the video was taken between the two segments?
Sorry, can't post a screen grab of it.
Sorry, can't post a screen grab of it.
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Why the first thing that comes to my mind is this?
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f5d7ed915d1374000581/3-2014_G-CRST.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi_sfr44-DiAhXOblAKHX1EBiEQFjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw0w5eWcav7SRYClHoq8O RVB
Agusta A109E, G-CRST Near Vauxhall Bridge, Central London on 16 January 2013
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f5d7ed915d1374000581/3-2014_G-CRST.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi_sfr44-DiAhXOblAKHX1EBiEQFjAAegQIBBAB&usg=AOvVaw0w5eWcav7SRYClHoq8O RVB
Agusta A109E, G-CRST Near Vauxhall Bridge, Central London on 16 January 2013
Looking at Webtrak, there is another erratic flight path in the same area for a couple of minutes before the one MikeNYC has kindly posted. At one point airspeed is shown with a minus figure. I wonder if the video was taken between the two segments?
Sorry, can't post a screen grab of it.
Sorry, can't post a screen grab of it.
Mjb
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Sorry, missed a whole bunch of posts there. Should have had my morning coffee first.
Additional information, pictures and most of the previously posted videos all here in one news report.
As mentioned by others I am at a loss as to why he flew back into the cloud having only just got out of it once, surely having seen the river the option would have been to head back to to the helicopter pad, or had he lost all sense of orientation at this point?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Manhattan.html
As mentioned by others I am at a loss as to why he flew back into the cloud having only just got out of it once, surely having seen the river the option would have been to head back to to the helicopter pad, or had he lost all sense of orientation at this point?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Manhattan.html
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Perhaps the pilot was suffering from a sudden medical problem (e.g. stroke, etc.)? Because his actions certainly make no sense, and the helicopter appeared to be flying OK (leaving aside the dive out of the cloud which, guessing, was pilot induced). Scud running over the water to get where he was going would probably have worked just fine. But to launch over the city, through the TFR, etc?
American Drive By Media at its best!
Please read the Weather Minima that CBS thinks is required for VFR......and remember New York is supposed to be the home of the best news reporting in the United States.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/helicop...7d0qb3gn6OnaMI
Please read the Weather Minima that CBS thinks is required for VFR......and remember New York is supposed to be the home of the best news reporting in the United States.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/helicop...7d0qb3gn6OnaMI
The rules require at least 3 miles of visibility and that the sky is clear of clouds for daytime flights.
I don't believe for a second there was any intention to land on that elevated roof top, whatever the deceased pilot's brother suggests in that CBS report. It's either arrived there because it was out of control, or the pilot didn't know it was there and flew in to it under control.
Additional information, pictures and most of the previously posted videos all here in one news report.
As mentioned by others I am at a loss as to why he flew back into the cloud having only just got out of it once, surely having seen the river the option would have been to head back to to the helicopter pad, or had he lost all sense of orientation at this point?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Manhattan.html
As mentioned by others I am at a loss as to why he flew back into the cloud having only just got out of it once, surely having seen the river the option would have been to head back to to the helicopter pad, or had he lost all sense of orientation at this point?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Manhattan.html
They can’t be bothered researching the exact time of crash so generalise it happed just before 2pm. ect ect
mjb
Last edited by mickjoebill; 12th Jun 2019 at 05:54.
I don't believe for a second there was any intention to land on that elevated roof top, whatever the deceased pilot's brother suggests in that CBS report. It's either arrived there because it was out of control, or the pilot didn't know it was there and flew in to it under control.
Weather may have changed from the accident time but roof top photos show top of the building clearly in the clouds. I'd be surprised if he could see the top of the building until the very last instance.
I'd like to know what the weather at intended destination was reported when contemplating departing his safely parked position whilst waiting for the weather to improve.
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1335 local reported weather at Linden, NJ airport was 1.5 miles, 600 overcast with drizzle, wind calm.