Recovery concludes after key evidence secured

NTSB investigator documenting the wreckage recovered from the Bell 206 L-4 helicopter that crashed into Hudson River on April 10 near Jersey City, New Jersey.
NTSB investigator documenting the wreckage recovered from the Bell 206 L-4 helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River on April 10 near Jersey City, New Jersey.

The NTSB has recovered critical components from the Bell 206L4 LongRanger helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River near Jersey City, New Jersey, on April 10, killing six people. Recovery crews have now located and retrieved the aircraft’s main rotor system, including the transmission and roof beam, as well as the tail rotor system, according to an investigative update released Monday.

Divers from the New York Police Department conducted the search in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Jersey City Office of Emergency Management. The recovered components are being transferred to a secure location for further examination as part of the NTSB’s continuing investigation.

With the major wreckage now secured, the NTSB said recovery efforts are complete. Additional analysis will focus on determining the cause of the crash, which occurred shortly after the helicopter took off from a nearby heliport.

The final ADS-B signal, recorded by AirNav RadarBox, showed the helicopter descending at a rate of 3,456 feet per minute just before impact. FAA records list the LongRanger as registered to Meridian Helicopters of Broussard, Louisiana, while the operator is New York Helicopter Charter.

The NTSB continues to seek visual evidence and eyewitness accounts of the crash sequence. Individuals with photos, videos, or information related to the accident are encouraged to contact NTSB via email at [email protected].