No Sign Of Engine Failure On Sikorsky Copter In Kobe Crash: NTSB

CALABASAS, CA — Investigators found no indication that engine failure contributed to the crash of a Sikorsky helicopter in California that killed Laker legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board.

All significant components of the helicopter, made by Stratford-based Sikorsky, were found in the wreckage area, according to the report. Investigators examined the main and tail rotor assemblies, and found damage consistent with powered rotation at the time of impact, the report said.

"Viewable sections of the engines showed no evidence of an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure," according to the report, released Friday. "The No. 2 engine first-stage compressor blades exhibited tip curl in the direction opposite of rotation, consistent with powered rotation at the time of impact."

The preliminary report makes no conclusions about the cause of the Jan. 26 crash but gives a general summary of information gathered by investigators so far. The full review of the crash — and a determination on the cause — could take as long as 18 months.

"Our investigators have already developed a substantial amount of evidence about the circumstances of this tragic crash," NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said in a statement. "And we are confident that we will be able to determine its cause as well as any factors that contributed to it so we can make safety recommendations to prevent accidents like this from occurring again."

The Sikorsky S-76B crashed about 9:45 a.m. in Calabasas, during a flight from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to Camarillo. The passengers were heading to Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball tournament game.

The S-76 has been in production since 1977, according to Sikorsky's website. The helicopter is used for offshore missions, search and rescue, ambulance transportation, utility work and VIP transportation. More than 178 customers operate S-76 helicopters in a corporate or VIP role.

The helicopter involved in the Calabasas crash had the tail number N72EX, was built in 1991 and was in "fantastic" condition, the Los Angeles Times has reported. The aircraft previously belonged to the State of Illinois and was used for "VIP transport" of governors and other officials, according to multiple reports.

In a prepared statement after the crash, Sikorsky offered condolences to those affected and said it had been in contact with the NTSB and was "ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer."

Friday's report includes earlier information released by NTSB, such as that the pilot contacted air-traffic controllers at about 9:45 a.m. "and advised he was climbing above cloud layers." According to the report, radar data indicate the helicopter was flying about 1,500 feet before turning left and descending, reaching a speed of more than 4,000 feet per minute.

The report also includes a description from a witness who was on a mountain bike trail and told investigators he heard the helicopter approaching.

"He perceived the sound getting louder and saw a blue and white helicopter emerge from the clouds passing from left to right directly to his left," according to the report. "He judged it to be moving fast, traveling on a forward and descending trajectory. It started to roll to the left such that he caught a glimpse of its belly. He observed it for 1 to 2 seconds, before it impacted terrain about 50 feet below his position."

Victims of the crash were: Kobe Bryant, 41, and his daughter Gianna, 13; John Altobelli, 56, longtime Orange Coast College baseball coach, along with his wife, Keri, 46, and their 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa, who was a teammate of Gianna on Bryant's Mamba Sports Academy basketball team; Sarah Chester, 45, and her 13-year-old daughter Payton, who also played with Gianna and Alyssa; Christina Mauser, 38, an assistant coach on the Mamba Academy team; and Ara Zobayan, 50, the helicopter pilot.

City News Service contributed to this post.