Yeah, drone strike was my first thought. But NTSB confirmed in their initial briefing that they're looking for the transmission and upper cowling in addition to the main and tail rotors, so it sure seems like the transmission departed the airframe.

My childhood friend, (former SEAL), worked at this dunker as a private contractor for a time, (unless there is more than one)? Seems like it belonged to some other branch, maybe Army? Or maybe he was training Army guys in the NAVY facility, it’s a little foggy and unfortunately he is no longer with us. :(

Yeah, the blades themselves seemed too intact to have had any kind of contact. The blades would have almost vaporized.

A transmission mounting failure could also explain the tail boom loss as the TR shaft became disconnected and failed.

When i was taking my lessons my IP constantly stressed avoiding Neg G's as the R22 is very prone to mast bumping.

I am glad you saw this thread. Most of my hours are in H-60's which has a completely different, as you know, rotor-head set up. I have limited knowledge of the teetering rotor system.

Sorry to hear about your friend...the divers that assist during the various dunker episodes, including three blind folded with specific exit criteria, are just the best. And funny, usually at my expense.

Again, to the lost souls: Descansa en paz mi amigos.

Juan has a good analysis. At around the 5 minute mark he's enlarged the cell phone video and you can clearly see that after separation the rotors are intact to the shaft and that the transmission is hanging below.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U8Q8XuqlyMQ?si=MKeU5RzeKRmrOAMs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Greg posted a good video. The 206 is certainly susceptible to mast bumping but you almost never hear of it. Perhaps a failure of some sort...

About 30 years ago Bell had an advertisement: "Bell 206 Jet Ranger - Safest Single Engine Aircraft in the World" Statistically they're that good, very docile. The Long Ranger is just a stretched Jet Ranger, (bigger engine, bigger blades, which, of course, you know). Also rides nicer.

Given the strength of the currents in the Hudson....and that the rotors have aerodynamic properties... This might be a real needle in a haystack... but given some past experiences recovering objects dropped in the East River... I think they will find
some if not all


Years ago we were hoisting beams for a new traveler system for the Manhattan Bridge.. A rigging failure caused a 40' beam to fall into the river..

Since it a navigable channel, (East River) we were required to recover the beam and not waste any time doing so.. The COE provided sonar, and side scanned plots of the bottom of the river, and we found the beam sticking out of the mud on the bottom of the river.. about 50 yards from where we though it hit the water... A 2 ton beam with no aero properties

Let's not forget the pilot.
https://gothamist.com/news/pilot-in-helicopter-crash-was-veteran-of-navy-seals-who-recently-moved-to-nyc-wife-says?utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=gnews&utm_ campaign=CDAqDQgAKgYICjCUgwEw0RgwpqrgAw&utm_conten t=rundown

Super sad. There are always actual human beings behind the news stories, we need to remember that. :(

Thanks. Though I’ve spent many hours managing rain erosion studies on composite rotor blades I know next to nothing about actual helicopters. Never been in one.

WOW, That's bad.
Sudden stoppage?
I have only seen one other occasion where the whole rotor and transmission assembly departed the airframe!
One rotor blade grip caught an RPG.
The centrifugal force of the other blade coming around ripped everything right out of the Huey!
The Transmission, mast, rotor head, mounts, and all.

Cost per hour to own and operate a 206L is over $2000 add some more for doing business in NYC They charge $350 per person, can’t fly 24/7. Math doesn’t work out for me to hop on one of those.

I would NOT ever get on a civilian helicopter. (except a Hiller )
ESP an R22!! Might as well be in a Rotorway.
As you say, it takes so much $$$$$$$$ to operate a chopper, , only the goberment can afford the manpower and parts.
Sad outcome no matter who or what is at fault

I'm with you there. Helicopters have always been too close to the limits of the laws of physics for my comfort zone. Doubt I'll fly anywhere in another one. When one fires up in my vicinity, my happy space is behind some large mass of concrete until it's gone on its way. General aviation flying for me is also less appealing. Small, regional jets also are a no go. Oh, well.

Videos of this incident show the craft yawing quickly through 90 degrees, then a portion of the tail separating, followed a second or two later by the rotor and mast and whatever under it. I'm sure they'll figure it out in due course.

Really sad, for all affected. An entire family wiped out, plus a former SEAL.

I have stick time in a R22 and in a 206. ( though very minimal In the 206..)
Even with that small amount of time, I felt so much more confident and safer in the 206. The operational feel is night and day. The 22 feels almost non existent around you. The articulating cyclic didn't help either....

.

As a member of a search and rescue team, I've been lowered off of and hoisted onto a hovering Army Blackhawk Helo. It's scary and exhilarating at the same time. All you can do is hope nothing bad happens and it very rarely does. Flying low over trees in steep canyons is something you never forget.

The 206 uses a turbine and should be safer than a recip.
We had the good old T53 L13 in our Hueys, Harley ever a failure , except for extra holes once in a while.
Never the less ,with all the gears in a chopper, crap can happen! I am surprised by this newest failure. It had to be above the M/R one-way clutch?
I would think?
It looks like the whole rotating assembly stopped, spinning the airframe around as the whole assembly violently left the A/F platform.
That's my guess.
Here is one of our ships after taking fire, still flying with a hole in the compressor section...
Look at the streaking smoke and fuel!
Something always exciting was going on....
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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1744484154.jpg

ckissick- Yup, through the jungle on our side to miss the trees even, where the rabbits could not go.
One gets their 25 cents worth of ride!

I use to get a ride in these one a few times a year (and I think a few others similar)http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1744484978.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1744484978.jpg

Other than that I have nothing to offer on this subject as I just don’t have the experience to offer anything else.