Steve Ganyard

“Particularly difficult to do an autorotation in an urban area. He had only that narrow alleyway, and part of that alleyway was blocked by those two large containers. No place to turn.”

Steve Ganyard · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-16

Ganyard said autorotation was difficult in the urban area because the narrow alleyway was partially blocked by two large containers.

“What's clear from the video and from the audio is that we know the engine failed. Why it failed and why the pilot wasn't able to successfully land is the open question for the NTSB,”

Steve Ganyard · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-16

Ganyard said the video and audio confirm the engine failed, but the cause and the pilot's inability to land remain open questions for the NTSB.

“When the engine failed, it was a particularly challenging time because the helicopter was at low altitude and it was hovering. It didn't have any forward air speed,”

Steve Ganyard · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-16

Ganyard explained that the helicopter was at low altitude and hovering when the engine failed, leaving it without forward air speed.