First report- 9/15/2026
NBC/Los Angeles
NBCLA has confirmed the helicopter that crashed in Chatsworth was NewsChopper4.
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Three people were killed and one person was hospitalized Tuesday night in a fiery helicopter crash in Chatsworth, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
The crash was reported just before 7 p.m. in the 9100 block of North Mason Avenue. The LAFD said the helicopter went down between two commercial buildings. The crash resulted in a fire, damaging four vehicles and two storage containers in the area.
Details about the deceased, such as their age and gender, were not released.
NBCLA has confirmed the helicopter is a news helicopter. Several TV news helicopters were in the west San Fernando Valley community reporting on a crash involving a Metro bus.
LAFD public information officer Brandon Silverman said firefighters were unable to determine the helicopter’s tail identification number, an alphanumeric code that is unique to an aircraft.
Oil chromatography test
Engineer Guy • September 21, 2026
I’m choosing to remain anonymous because I’ve worked in Seattle for a major cluster.
Anyway…
Back when I worked as an engineer we’d check the generator oil using a chromatography type test. Sending oil samples to a lab to have it tested for various conditions. It was telling and enabled us to learn about the conditions of the engine.
Might be valuable to test the oil condition throughout the engine and gearbox, as well as others that have been serviced by the same company that recently worked on this one. Of course limitations due to the thermal conditions that took place after the crash etc.
Listening to the audio from the flight, it sounds like something sheared inside the gear box or drivetrain, lowering the amount of drag on the engine, causing the RPM to increase until the safety mechanism cut the fuel rate to prevent it from “grenading” due to excessive RPM. I say this because of the high pitched whine that started shortly before the increase in RPM and klaxon sounding.
Also, haven’t ruled out a clutch breaking apart inside either, which may have contributed to the rapid decay in rotor speed and inability to obtain speed necessary for the auto rotation. It may have been unable to decouple from the engine entirely.
They need to do a thorough investigation of the air crafts that have been serviced by the company that worked on this one. Probably already are.
Take care,
Engineer Guy
News Helicopters
Mike B Barer • September 20, 2026
I think the days of news helicopters may be numbered. I know that traffic helicopters seemed to have disappeared decades ago. I wonder if they stil fly in our area.
Droning on and on..
Jason Remington • September 20, 2026
Drones are a better idea and may soon replace traffic copters. Would likely be cheaper– and safer.
LAFD: Those onboard deceased
Jason Remington • September 15, 2026
LAFD public information officer Brandon Silverman said firefighters were unable to determine the helicopter’s tail identification number, an alphanumeric code that is unique to an aircraft.
“From the helicopter itself, it’s pretty well destroyed,” Silverman said. “So we are going to have to go through the rubble and see how many victims there were on board, as well as identify the helicopter; we couldn’t even see a tail.”
Another tragic tv news copter crash
Jason Remington • September 15, 2026
Reporter Eliana Moreno among those onboard the copter tonite.