Thread by @MikeyKayFilms

Thread 29 Jan 2002|

1. Today I’m switching from my E-11A investigation to update you on the latest findings from the @NTSB concerning the S-76B crash that killed #KobeBryant, his daughter Gianna & 7 others. Below is the latest media briefing from the investigation team.

https://twitter.com/NTSB_Newsroom/status/1222348376143888384

1b. HEADLINES:

•- No Flight Data Recorder (FDR) or Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) on the S-76B that crashed.
•- no Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS).
•- impact point was 1085ft Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL).
•- pilot lost comms w/ ATC at 2300ft AMSL (AMSL not specified).

2. NTSB BRIEF:

Key info from brief. I’ll also provide questions/analysis in response.

PILOT

as of July 2019, the pilot had:

•- 8200hrs total (so more hours at time/date of crash)
•- 1250hrs on type (S-76).

A very experienced pilot. I flew 2500hrs over a 20yr career.

3. FLIGHT DETAILS.

•- S-76B lost comms at 2300ft AMSL.

Qu: what was the height Above Ground Level (AGL) where the S-76B lost comms?

Qu: Grid Reference (GR) of were comms were lost, and relation to the impact point, which is at 1085ft AMSL.

4. FLIGHT DETAILS CONTD.

•- Rate of Descent (RoD) 2000ft/min in a descending left hand turn. It was a ‘high energy impact.’

Analysis: what was Angle of Bank in descending left hand turn. S-76B was travelling 150+kts (acc to ADS-B data). This would then give radius of turn.

4b. FLIGHT DETAILS CONTD.

•- Rate of Descent (RoD) 2000ft/min in a descending left hand turn.

Qu: height (AGL) of the S-76B when it started the descent and turn. And what was the cloud base. This will determine if the S-76B was in cloud and indicate motive to the manoeuvre.

4c. FLIGHT DETAILS CONTD.

•- Rate of Descent (RoD) 2000ft/min in a descending left hand turn.

Qu: the GR of where S-76B started the descent, and its relation to the impact point.

5. EQUIPMENT.

•- *No* FDR or CVR on board.

After a S-76C Baltic Sea crash in 2005 killing 12, NTSB recommended to the FAA that all rotorcraft operating under Part 91 & 135 be fitted w/ FDR/CVRs. FAA failed to implement.

(135 is charter flight rules-what Kobe’s flight was).

5b. EQUIPMENT CONTD.

•- *No* Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS) on board.

After a 2004 S-76A crash in Texas, killing 10, NTSB recommend to FAA that all new & existing U.S turbine powered rotorcraft certified to carry 6+ pax, be equipped w/ a TAWS. FAA failed to implement.

6. REPORTS.

•- a prelim report with facts only, will be issued in 10 days (around 7 Feb).
•- a full report will be issued in 12 to 18months with facts, analysis, and safety recommendations.

7. IMPORTANT UPDATE 31 Jan 20:00|

THE HEADLINE USED IN @Independent ARTICLE BELOW IS MISLEADING. HERE IS WHY.

Emerging reports that the company operating #KobeByrant’s S-76 helicopter — Island Express Helicopters — *did not* have the authority...

independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…

8. IMPORTANT UPDATE 31 Jan 20:00|

... to fly under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), under the company’s FAA Part 135 Certification.

9. IMPORTANT UPDATE 31 Jan 20:05|

This is important - the pilot was personally qualified to fly under IFR (on instruments) and the aircraft did have the necessary equipment on board to do so. But the company hadn’t undergone the required checks to attain an IFR certification.

10. IMPORTANT UPDATE 31 Jan 20:10|

This is also important - the pilot was operating under Special VFR — so able to fly legally in weather minima that is 1mile visibility and Clear of Cloud. Fog is defined as precipitation causing vis of less than 1km.

11. IMPORTANT UPDATE 31 Jan 20:30|

The headline should read something like:

HELICOPTER IN KOBE BRYANT CRASH WASN’T CERTIFIED TO FLY ON INSTRUMENTS, OR FLY UNDER IFR, OR FLY IN CLOUD. The visibility was poor on the day, but under SVFR *it was* legal.

independent.co.uk/news/world/ame…

12. Update 3 Feb 01:19 #KobeBryant|

WATCH

Recreation by Wolficorn on You Tube using ADS-B data from Kobe Bryant’s S-76. Includes radio calls w/ ATC. The screen shot is 2 minutes from the moment of impact. The weather was Overcast at 1100ft AGL vis poor

13. Update 3 Feb 01:19|

At around 7mins 25 secs the S-76B makes a climbing left hand tracking South & turning away from the 101 freeway. The helicopter was likely in cloud or at best, flying in conditions that would necessitate being on instruments.

#KobeBryant

14. Update 22 Feb 2020|

#KobeBryant

The investigator into #Kobe’s pilot’s 2015 violation concluded:

‘There are no indications this is a repeated incident & there are no signs this incident is a trend,’

Trends are important when investigating crashes.

latimes.com/california/sto…