CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Investigators found disconnected and missing hardware aboard a helicopter that crashed in 2022, killing the pilot and a North Carolina television station’s meteorologist, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
The NTSB's final report on the 2022 crash, which was released Thursday, said the probable cause was inadequate inspections by the pilot and maintenance personnel, resulting in an eventual loosening of the hardware and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers and pilot Chip Tayag died after the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed along a Charlotte-area interstate. The purpose of the flight was to provide video training for the meteorologist over a simulated news scene, according to the NTSB report. About five minutes into the flight, the helicopter began a series of 360-degree turns over Interstate 77, but during the third turn, it entered a steep descent, then crashed in a grassy area next to the highway, according to the report.
An examination of the flight controls revealed that hardware that should have been connected to a part on the main rotor was disconnected and the connecting hardware was missing, according to the report. An examination of remaining components suggested that the connecting hardware backed out during the flight, the report said. The report concluded that it is unlikely that the hardware was secure before the flight, and it may have been loose for multiple flights before the crash.