NYC - Sight Seeing helicopter crashes into Hudson after catastrophic mechanical failure. 6 Dead.

[Anti Federalist]

 

[Anti Federalist]

Six dead, including 3 kids, after helicopter crashes into NYC’s Hudson River: ‘Split in half’

Witnesses on social media described a “loud thumping noise” when the helicopter crashed, with what appeared to be a broken propeller.

nypost.com

 

[Anti Federalist]

My first guess: catastrophic failure of the tailrotor gearbox and associated parts and assemblies.

Possibly a "mast bump". This is a usually fatal incident where turbulence, improper flight inputs and maneuvers or overloading combine with low G conditions to bend the main rotors far enough that they make contact, usually catastrophic, with the rear rotor "mast".

 

[Anti Federalist]

The Bell 206 is specifically mentioned as a helicopter prone to "mast bumps".

 

[Anti Federalist]

Mast Bump Bell 206​

Mast bumping is a critical issue for helicopters, particularly those with a teetering rotor system like the Bell 206. It occurs when the main rotor hub strikes the mast, often due to excessive flapping, which can lead to catastrophic failure. In a recent incident on April 16, 2019, a Bell 206B helicopter was destroyed during a test flight near Fort McDowell, Arizona, resulting in the deaths of both occupants. The NTSB investigation concluded that the challenging ergonomics during the flight test, where the flight test engineer was holding a laptop over the cyclic, likely contributed to the mast bumping event.1

On April 10, 2025, another Bell 206 helicopter crash in the Hudson River killed all six on board, leading to speculation that mast bumping was the cause. Videos of the crash suggested the helicopter was maneuvering in a way that could lead to mast bumping, where the fuselage could not follow the rotor hub tilt, causing excessive blade flapping and mast bumping.3

Mast bumping is more common in helicopters with teetering or underslung rotor systems, such as the Bell 206, due to how the rotor is supported by the mast. In contrast, helicopters with articulated rotors, which have more than two blades, are less prone to mast bumping because the rotor system can handle excessive flapping without the mast being struck.4

Understanding and avoiding mast bumping is crucial for pilots and engineers, especially during test flights or maneuvers that involve low-G conditions or unloading the rotor.41
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

 

[Anti Globalist]

My heart goes out to the families of those who were on that helicopter.

 

[dannno]

Mast Bump Bell 206​

Mast bumping is a critical issue for helicopters, particularly those with a teetering rotor system like the Bell 206. It occurs when the main rotor hub strikes the mast, often due to excessive flapping, which can lead to catastrophic failure. In a recent incident on April 16, 2019, a Bell 206B helicopter was destroyed during a test flight near Fort McDowell, Arizona, resulting in the deaths of both occupants. The NTSB investigation concluded that the challenging ergonomics during the flight test, where the flight test engineer was holding a laptop over the cyclic, likely contributed to the mast bumping event.1

On April 10, 2025, another Bell 206 helicopter crash in the Hudson River killed all six on board, leading to speculation that mast bumping was the cause. Videos of the crash suggested the helicopter was maneuvering in a way that could lead to mast bumping, where the fuselage could not follow the rotor hub tilt, causing excessive blade flapping and mast bumping.3

Mast bumping is more common in helicopters with teetering or underslung rotor systems, such as the Bell 206, due to how the rotor is supported by the mast. In contrast, helicopters with articulated rotors, which have more than two blades, are less prone to mast bumping because the rotor system can handle excessive flapping without the mast being struck.4

Understanding and avoiding mast bumping is crucial for pilots and engineers, especially during test flights or maneuvers that involve low-G conditions or unloading the rotor.41
AI-generated answer. Please verify critical facts.

I just asked grok to explain it like I was 5.

 

[Working Poor]

I am sure it's Trump's fault.

 

[sparebulb]

Once again, the family that flies together dies together.

Do not put your whole family on one aircraft.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Once again, the family that flies together dies together.

Do not put your whole family on one aircraft.

Brutally honest advice from a commercial pilot.