FAA Restricts Doors-Off Helicopter Tours

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The FAA said Friday that it’s restricting helicopter operators from offering so-called doors-off tours unless the passengers are equipped with quick-release harnesses. The announcement came five days after five people died when a tour helicopter autorotated into New York’s East River and rolled over. Although the pilot escaped, five passengers apparently drowned because they couldn’t release harnesses intended to keep them secure with open doors.

Although no cause has been cited, the pilot told investigators that passenger luggage may have inadvertently bumped the helicopter’s fuel cutoff valve, stopping the engine. The Eurocopter AS350 successfully autorotated to the river near Gracie Mansion and although it was equipped with inflatable skid floats, it rolled slowly to the right and eventually inverted. First responders said they struggled to release the passengers from harnesses not equipped with quick releases that passengers could operate under duress. During the rescue attempt, the helicopter drifted 50 blocks in strong currents.

“The FAA will order operators and pilots to take immediate actions to control or mitigate this risk,” the agency said in Friday.”Until then, the FAA will order no more “doors off” operations that involve restraints that cannot be released quickly in an emergency.” Meanwhile, the NTSB continued its investigation of the accident and reported that an initial inspection of the AS350 revealed no apparent mechanical flaws in the Turbomeca Arriel engine that would have caused the stoppage.

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