2 dead in Seattle TV news helicopter crash

NTSB releases preliminary report on fatal helicopter crash
By KOMO staff & news reports Published: Mar 21, 2014 at 9:57 PM PDT

Source:
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/NTSB-releases-preliminary-report-on-fatal-helicopter-crash-251634781.html?abc=VT3UCkGf

SEATTLE -- The National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report late Friday on the fiery helicopter crash near the Space Needle that killed two men on board and burned a third on the ground.

The report does not draw any conclusions about what caused the KOMO News helicopter to crash early Tuesday morning, but it does present new information about the chopper's failed takeoff.

According to the report, the helicopter began a counterclockwise rotation as soon as it lifted off from the KOMO helipad. Multiple witnesses saw the chopper pitch downward while continuing to spin.

Images from three separate security recordings show the helicopter rotated 360 degrees before it pitched forward. Moments later the chopper crashed into a car near the intersection of 4th Avenue and Broad Street, according to the report.

The wreck killed both men on board - pilot Gary Pfitzner and former KOMO photographer Bill Strothman. The two worked for Helicopters Inc., which owned the aircraft.

A Seattle man was seriously burned when the helicopter crashed on his car.

It does not appear any of the security cameras captured the moment of impact.

The agency will continue combing through pilot and maintenance and company records associated with the flight, the NTSB's Dennis Hogenson said on Thursday. Investigators are focusing on the helicopter's engine, the airframe, the pilot and the environment.

A final report could take as long as a year.
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