NTSB releases final report of helicopter crash that killed pilot and Charlotte news meteorologist

CHARLOTTE ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — The National Transportation Safety Board released its final report on Thursday in connection to the fatal WBTV helicopter crash that killed pilot Chip Tayag and station meteorologist Jason Myers in November 2022.

According to the newly released report, the crash was caused by, “inadequate inspections of the forward left control rod end attachment hardware to the stationary swashplate by the pilot and by maintenance personnel, resulting in an eventual loosening and backing out of the hardware and subsequent loss of helicopter control.”

The NTSB reports that the purpose of the November 2022 flight was to provide video training for Myers “over a simulated news scene.”

About five minutes into the flight, the pilot began a series of left, 360° turns over Interstate-77. NTSB reports that during the third turn, helicopter control was lost and the helicopter entered a steep dive until it crashed in a grassy area close to Interstate 77 South.

“The pilot made a radio call before impact stating that they were ‘going down.’ The helicopter
impacted a grassy area,” NTSB reports. “There was no post-accident fire.”

Further examination of Robinson Helicopter R44

NTSB reports an examination of the helicopter’s flight controls following the accident revealed the forward left control rod end that should have been connected to the stationary swashplate on the main rotor was disconnected and the connecting hardware was missing.

“A metallurgical examination of the remaining components suggested that the connecting hardware, including a threaded bolt, nut, palnut, two washers, and two hat-shaped spacers were loose and backed out during the flight,” NTSB reports.

Further examination of the remaining hardware revealed that one of the two spacers was
installed backwards, NTSB said, most likely during the field overhaul of the helicopter about three years before the accident.

“The subject hardware was required to be inspected for security by the pilot during each preflight inspection and by maintenance personnel at each 100-hour/annual inspection, NTSB reports. “The pilot tested positive for quinine and the pain reliever tramadol and was under a physician’s care for arthritis and polyarthralgia that was unreported to the FAA.”

NTSB reports that based on the mechanical issues and the actions of the pilot immediately before the accident, “performance impairments were not an issue.”

The NTSB said it is unlikely that the effects of the pilot’s use of quinine and tramadol were factors in this deadly 2022 accident.

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