James LaPorta @JimLaPorta
1h Via @flightradar24 - here's the speed and altitude graph for the S-76B Kobe Bryant was flying in. The helicopter is 29-years-old. Its certification was good until Sept. 30, 2021, per FAA. This was the second flight of the day, it previously flew from LGB to SNA in Orange County.
It makes me wonder...
The helicopter took off and flew at around 1,000 ft. altitude.
It looks like midway through the flight the helicopter hovered (slowed to minimal speed) for awhile, perhaps letting the passengers see some sights in a helicopter (weather permitting), and then picked up speed again to travel to their destination.
At the end, the pilot has his "oh, crap" moment, guns the engine and pulls up rapidly before the helicopter falls.
So, he either: 1) was flying into an obstacle (power lines?), 2) didn't see an approaching hillside, 3) or panicked and lost his lift after turning and revving too hard (tilted too far to the side?).
I'm not a pilot, so this is just presumption on my part.
-PJ
Is the time scale minutes and seconds or hours and minutes (with hours being Zulu time)?