What: Paul P. Dudley Bell 206B JetRanger
Where: East River, New York, NY
When: Oct 4, 2011
Who: 5 aboard, 1 fatality
Why: The Bell 206B JetRanger was en route with five people aboard when it took off to about 25 feet above ground, and spun, then crashed for an unknown reason upside down into the East River. The flight had just taken off from the riverbank launch pad. Two people were injured, one was missing. Four individuals were rescued from the water, including the pilot. While the helicopter was submerged, rescuers searched for the fifth passenger, Sonia Marra Nicholson, but did not find her until it was too late. The chopper had sunk 50 feet into the water. Nicholson had been visiting New York on the occasion of her 40th birthday.

THe passengers who were rescued were Nicholson’s partner Helen Tamaski, her mother Harriet Nicholson and her stepfather Paul Nicholson, all of whom are in stable condition at Bellevue and New York University Hospitals. Paul and Harriet Nicholson live in Portugal but are British citizens. Sonia Marra Nicholson and Helen Tamaski lived in Australia.

The pilot Paul Dudley also survived. The passengers were close personal friends. He manages the Linden, N.J., airport.

Rescuers included police officers who where on hand, running a drill on the East River, and who, still in uniform, jumped in to assist passengers.

NTSB briefing today at 5:00 PM (EDT) on investigation of helicopter accident in New York City

—
WASHINGTON – NTSB Board Member Mark Rosekind will brief the news media on the NTSB investigation into yesterday’s East River helicopter accident.

The briefing will be held at 5:00 PM EDT today at the
accident site.
NTSB Press Contact: Terry Williams (on-scene in New York)
202-557-1350
williat@ntsb.gov