Three People Killed After News Helicopter Crashes in Chatsworth

Helicopter Providing Coverage for NBC Los Angeles Crashed While Reporting on Fatal Bus Accident

CHATSWORTH, CALIFORNIA (September 16, 2026) -Three people have tragically died in Chatsworth after a news helicopter for NBC Los Angeles crashed as it was covering a fatal bus accident.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the accident occurred on Tuesday evening. The incident began when an SUV plowed into the side of an LA Metro bus.

Two people died and another six people were injured in that crash. An NBC news helicopter arrived at the scene to help cover the incident.

For undetermined reasons, the pilot lost control and collided with the ground. In all, three people were killed following that crash.

The victims have been identified as the pilot, a photojournalist, and a pedestrian on the ground. It remains unclear what may have caused the helicopter to crash into the ground.

A full investigation by the FAA remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Chatsworth Helicopter Crashes

Businesses across California have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid causing foreseeable injury to others. Aviation companies are typically considered common carriers and are held to a heightened standard in terms of safety. They must operate with an abundance of caution to protect their guests and ensure that their aircraft are properly maintained. Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. § 91.13, aircraft cannot be operated in any manner that is considered careless or reckless that would endanger another person or property. Courts will take into consideration numerous factors when evaluating liability for any helicopter crash.

• They will examine whether the pilot used appropriate pre-flight planning and initiated performance checks.
• They will consider weather and visibility patterns at the time of the crash.
• They will take into consideration maintenance records related to the aircraft that went down.
• They will also examine any information that can be gleaned from the black box recovered at the site of the crash.

If a pilot fails to follow established safety protocols prior to a helicopter going down, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Consider, for example, Elsworth v. Beech Aircraft Corp., decided by the California Supreme Court in 1984. That case involved a twin-engine Beech aircraft that entered a spin during a demonstration that caused it to ultimately crash. The subsequent crash killed the pilot along with three passengers. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the aircraft had dangerously poor stall and spin characteristics that violated FAA safety regulations.

Preserving Evidence After LA County Helicopter Crashes

Helicopters are normally very safe. But these aircraft are also particularly difficult to handle and pose a number of unique safety concerns. They are involved in a number of serious collisions each year. According to RESQ, “In a typical recent year, the U.S. records approximately 100–130 civil helicopter accidents, with 17–30 fatal crashes resulting in 30–55 fatalities. The fatal accident rate has declined significantly over the past two decades, falling from roughly 1.27 to approximately 0.63 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours.” It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any LA County helicopter crash.

• Maintenance: All of the documents related to the maintenance and repairs of the helicopter should be carefully pored over.
• Pre-flight Records: It is also important to review the pre-flight records to ensure that the proper safety protocols were being used.
• Physical Debris: The actual debris left over after the collision can help paint a clear picture of what went wrong and any mechanical failures that may have contributed to what happened.
• Electronic Records: The electronic records captured during the flight before the crash can be instrumental in helping to determine what may have gone wrong. 

Helicopter crashes tend to be highly preventable. They often involve one or more errors on the part of any pilot. But not all helicopter crashes involve pilot error. It is relatively common for many of these incidents to involve mechanical failures and other issues that are beyond the control of the pilot. As such, there could be several sources of liability. This is why it’s so important that these accidents are properly investigated by an outside party. The family of any person who died in a helicopter crash is able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.

Investigating Los Angeles County Helicopter Crashes

We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our deepest condolences to the family of the three victims killed in this Chatsworth helicopter crash. Any person who may have more information should reach out to the FAA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into all of the circumstances that may have contributed to what happened. Many important safety questions have yet to be addressed.

Do you need more information about a helicopter crash in Los Angeles County? Our team of aviation accident investigators is here to support you. We understand how difficult it can be to get answers after any helicopter crash. You can rest assured that we will do everything in our power to help in any way that we can. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at 949-727-9300.