What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On June 17, 2005, at approximately 1638 hours local time, N731MY, a Sikorsky SK-76-C, s/n 760460, took off from the 34th street heliport in nyc, NY and crash landed into the east river. Eyewitness statements indicated that the helicopter conducted a category a takeoff and turned to the north for departure. As the helicopter traveled north along the east river, the helicopter never gained altitude and settled into the east river near 37th street, with the landing gear extended and no float deployment. Eyewitnesses also indicated that there were no noises from the helicopter and no smoke coming from the rear of the engines. All eyewitnesses indicated that the helicopter sounded like it had power but was not climbing. 6 passengers and two flight crew were recovered from the helicopter with 7 minor injuries and 1 serious injury to the PIC.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON JUNE 17, 2005, AT APPROXIMATELY 1638 HOURS LOCAL TIME, N731MY, A SIKORSKY SK-76-C, S/N 760460, TOOK OFF FROM THE 34TH STREET HELIPORT IN NYC, NY AND CRASH LANDED INTO THE EAST RIVER. EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS INDICATED THAT THE HELICOPTER CONDUCTED A CATEGORY A TAKEOFF AND TURNED TO THE NORTH FOR DEPARTURE. AS THE HELICOPTER TRAVELED NORTH ALONG THE EAST RIVER, THE HELICOPTER NEVER GAINED ALTITUDE AND SETTLED INTO THE EAST RIVER NEAR 37TH STREET, WITH THE LANDING GEAR EXTENDED AND NO FLOAT DEPLOYMENT. EYEWITNESSES ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO NOISES FROM THE HELICOPTER AND NO SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE ENGINES. ALL EYEWITNESSES INDICATED THAT THE HELICOPTER SOUNDED LIKE IT HAD POWER BUT WAS NOT CLIMBING. 6 PASSENGERS AND TWO FLIGHT CREW WERE RECOVERED FROM THE HELICOPTER WITH 7 MINOR INJURIES AND 1 SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PIC.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.