2019 New York City helicopter crash
An AgustaWestland AW109E similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
DateJune 10, 2019 (2019-06-10)
SummaryHelicopter crashed onto roof of a building
SiteAxa Equitable Center, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York City
40°45′43″N 73°58′56″W / 40.761882°N 73.982181°W / 40.761882; -73.982181
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAgustaWestland AW109E
RegistrationN200BK
Flight originEast 34th Street Heliport (6N5)[1]
DestinationLinden, New Jersey
Occupants1
Passengers0
Crew1[2]
Fatalities1
Survivors0

On June 10, 2019, an Agusta A109E Power crashed onto the Axa Equitable Center on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York City, which sparked a fire on the top of the building. The helicopter involved in the accident, N200BK,[3] was destroyed. The only occupant was the pilot, Tim McCormack, who died in the crash.[4] The aircraft was owned by Italian American businessman Daniele Bodini at the time of the crash.[1][5]

The flight originated from the East 34th Street Heliport (FAA LID: 6N5) at approximately 1:32 PM EDT bound for Linden, New Jersey. At around 1:43 PM EDT on June 10, 2019, the helicopter, an Agusta A109E Power, registration N200BK, crashed on the roof of the Axa Equitable Center,[6] sparking a fire on the top of the building. The first emergency call was made at 1:43 PM. The FDNY has considered the accident as a "hard landing." The fire on the top of the highrise was extinguished quickly.

The NTSB final report[7] states that day instrument meteorological conditions were encountered (nearby station reporting 500 ft (150 m) overcast ceiling and 1.25 mi (2.0 km) visibility) for the Part 91 corporate flight, that basic visual flight rules weather minimums for helicopters are 0.5 mi (0.8 km) visibility, and remain clear of clouds, that the pilot radioed that he "did not know where he was", and that tracking data showed that the helicopter "flew erratically" and "changed course and altitude several times". A witness-recorded video of part of the flight is available.[8]

After the accident, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio briefed the press, confirming a lack of further victims or apparent terroristic motive.[9] The National Transportation Safety Board sent agents to investigate the accident.[10] The accident prompted Mayor de Blasio to call for a ban on non-emergency helicopters flying over Manhattan.[11] Former City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe countered that the mayor had the authority to eliminate ninety percent of helicopter traffic by himself by eliminating the more than 200 daily tourist and charter flights from city-owned heliports.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "1 dead in helicopter crash-landing on Manhattan building". ABC7 New York. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  2. Barron, James (June 10, 2019). "Helicopter Crashes on Roof of Manhattan Building, Killing Pilot". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  3. Pope, Stephen (June 11, 2019). "NTSB Begins Investigation into Cause of New York City Helicopter Crash". Flying. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  4. "One dead in helicopter crash on NYC skyscraper". BBC News. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  5. Sandler, Rachel. "Who Is The Owner Of The Helicopter That Crashed, Killed 1 in New York City?". Forbes. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  6. "Helicopter crashes into roof of Midtown NYC building, killing one". nydailynews.com. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  7. NTSB (February 9, 2022). "ERA19FA191 - Final Report". Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  8. Slater, Wendy (June 11, 2019). Crazy helicopter on the east river. East River, New York City, New York. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  9. "Helicopter crashes into New York City building: Latest updates". www.cnn.com. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  10. DiLorenzo, Anthony (June 11, 2019). "NTSB investigating deadly helicopter crash landing on Manhattan skyscraper". WPIX 11 New York. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  11. 1 2 Marsh, Julia; Calder, Rich (June 14, 2019). "De Blasio calls for ban on helicopters flying over Manhattan". New York Post. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
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