In-Flight Audio May Point to Cause in NBC4 Helicopter Crash

Investigators probing the NBC4 helicopter crash in Chatsworth say the final live-broadcast audio—where the engine winds down and a horn signals low rotor RPM—may be the most important evidence, as they review maintenance records, weather, and pilot training to determine the cause. Early theories center on mechanical failure, with hovering at low altitude (a dangerous “dead man’s curve”) complicating an autorotation. The crash killed NBC4 journalist Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a bystander, while a separate bus crash and an arrest related to that incident added to the day’s tragedy; investigators continue to piece together what happened and why.