Helicopter accident in New York: the accident killed by the pilot was not certified to fly in bad weather

The pilot was killed Monday when his helicopter crashed against the roof of a skyscraper in New York City was not allowed to fly in reduced visibility, according to his pilot certification which raises questions as to why he took off in fog and rain. Tim McCormackThe 58-year-old was certified only by visual flight rules, which generally require favorable weather conditions and clearing conditions, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The rules require at least 3 miles of visibility and the sky is clear for daytime flights. Visibility at the time of Monday 's crash was about 1 1/4 miles to Central Park, nearby, with low clouds covering the skyline.

McCormack was not allowed to use instruments to help survive in cloudy weather or bad weather, the FAA said.

The accident in the tightly controlled airspace of downtown Manhattan shook the 200-foot-high AXA Equitable building, wiped out the Agusta A109E helicopter, caused a fire and forced office workers to take action. the escape.

This briefly caused 9/11 memories and fears of a terrorist attack, but the authorities said that there was no indication that the accident was deliberate. Doug Brazy, an aviation safety investigator, said Tuesday at a briefing of the National Transportation Safety Board that McCormack had arrived at a heliport on the East River, New York, after a trip carrying a passenger from Westchester County, located nearby.

The passenger told investigators that the 15-minute flight was nothing out of the ordinary, Brazy said.

Mr. McCormack waited about two hours at the heliport and examined the weather before taking off for what was supposed to be a trip to his helicopter's airport in Linden, New Jersey, Brazy said.

This trip would have taken the helicopter south, over the city's harbor and beyond the Statue of Liberty.

The investigators were watching a video posted on social media Monday afternoon, showing a helicopter that, according to investigators, was the helicopter sentenced, stopping and hovering a short distance south of the town. heliport, then turning around and making an erratic flight to the north in rain and clouds.

The helicopter struck the Manhattan tower about 11 minutes after takeoff, in an area where flights are not expected to take place.

A flight restriction in effect since President Trump's entry into office prohibits aircraft from flying below 3,000 feet within a one-kilometer radius of Trump Tower, only a few blocks away. from the place of the accident.

Helicopters entering and exiting the heliport, on 34th Street East, are only allowed to fly into the restricted area when they have permission and are in constant communication with the control of the air traffic.

Brazy stated that the pilot had never made such a request and had never contacted air traffic control, although the investigators had attempted to verify the information that McCormack had telephoned somebody. one just before the accident. Brazy said that the planned route from McCormack to Linden would not have required him to contact air traffic control.

To the question of whether time could play a role, Brazy said: "It's certainly one of the most interesting concerns we have."

"Should the helicopter have stolen? I do not know yet," he said.

Brazy stated that the helicopter was not equipped with a flight data recorder or a voice recorder in the cockpit.

McCormack was a former fire chief in northern Clinton Corners State, New York. With 15 years of experience in flying helicopters and single engine aircraft, he was certified flight instructor last year, according to FAA records.

The East Clinton Volunteer Fire Department wrote on Facebook that "McCormack's technical knowledge and ability to command an emergency was exceptional".

Linden Airport Manager Paul Dudley described McCormack as a "very experienced" and "very well regarded" pilot.

Brazy said that a rescue team should begin removing the wreckage from the roof here Tuesday night, possibly taking pieces down the stairs and the elevator. He will be transferred to a safe place for further examination, he said.

"The location – in the city and on the roof of a building – is probably the biggest challenge of the investigation," Brazy said.