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MoreQuiet 7d · day 8

Live broadcast audio offers crucial clues in NBC4 helicopter crash investigation

NTSB officials say recording of reporter's final moments before the Chatsworth crash is the most important evidence collected so far.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 6d ago6 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • Live broadcast audio captured during the crash is the NTSB's most critical evidence—it recorded engine shutdown, warning horns, and the reporter's final words.
  • Aviation experts suggest mechanical failure of the 22-year-old Eurocopter AS350 B2, though the precise cause remains under investigation.
  • The helicopter crashed while covering a Metro bus collision in Chatsworth on Tuesday; the dual disasters claimed five lives total.

“You can't pull up?”

Eliana Moreno, NBC4 reporter · LA Times (live broadcast audio) ↗

Eliana Moreno NBC4 reporterGeorge Marciniw Helicopter pilotFabian Salazar NTSB investigatorZoey Tur Veteran news helicopter pilotJack Cress Former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, USC instructor

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 4 pieces in two hours at Sep 16, 4 PM; 6 pieces over 8 days (5 articles · 1 post) Sep 16, 12 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Google News 1, Mastodon 1Sep 16, 6 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 12 AM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 12 PM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 6 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quiet 1
Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 4:45 AM ET
  1. background

    Aviation experts point to likely mechanical failure in 22-year-old aircraft — Experts consulted by the LA Times suggest the crash resulted from mechanical failure of the 22-year-old Eurocopter AS350 B2. Veteran news helicopter pilot Zoey Tur identified the audio signature as engine shutdown, noting the horn warning of low rotor RPM and blade slap sound. However, Tur observed that the post-crash fire indicated fuel remained onboard, suggesting the engine shut down for an undetermined reason rather than fuel exhaustion.

  2. background

    NTSB releases live broadcast audio from helicopter's final moments — At a Wednesday news conference, federal transportation officials disclosed audio captured during the helicopter's final live broadcast. The recording captured the engine winding down, a warning horn (possibly indicating low rotor RPM or hydraulic failure), Moreno responding with "uh oh," and her final question "You can't pull up?" before the video cut out. NTSB Investigator Fabian Salazar called this "probably the most important piece of evidence we have recovered so far."

  3. 1

    NBC4 helicopter crashes in Chatsworth while covering bus collision

    Reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw were flying an NBC4 news helicopter to cover a Metro bus collision in Chatsworth when the aircraft crashed around 7 p.m. The crash killed both journalists aboard and 29-year-old bystander Edy Gutierrez Mejia on the ground. The event claimed the lives of five people total, with others injured.

    “That video is probably the most important piece of evidence we have recovered so far.”
    — Fabian Salazar, NTSB investigator · source

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 4 outlets Dramatic recording could help answer why NBC4 helicopter crashed

    first by Los Angeles Times, 7d ago · also LA Times California, LA Times, Yahoo