CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A year and a half after a deadly television helicopter crash in Charlotte killed two employees, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded a loose bolt and other improperly installed hardware caused the wreck.
"It is unlikely that the hardware was secure before the flight and may have been loose for multiple flights before the accident," the report released Thursday explains.
The bolt, a nut, palnut, two washers and two hat-shaped spacers were found to be loose, according to the NTSB. Investigators concluded they had backed out of their intended position during the flight.
Additionally, one of the spacers was found to have been installed backward. Investigators believe the piece was improperly installed for about three years even though the hardware must be inspected by the pilot before each flight.
The NTSB has concluded this improperly installed hardware caused the loss of helicopter control by the pilot.
The Nov. 22, 2022 crash killed pilot Chip Tayag and WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers. The two were conducting a training flight over Interstate 77 near Arrowood Road. The road was shut down for several hours while crews worked to remove the 1999 Robinson R44 chopper from the side of the highway.
In March 2023, Myers' widow Jillian filed a lawsuit against the Wilson Air Center, TTWN Media Networks, and iHeartMedia. The suit claims Wilson Air Center provided contaminated fuel for the helicopter and didn't test the fuel for contaminants. TTWN Media and its parent company iHeartMedia, the owners of the helicopter, are accused of failing to properly inspect the helicopter.
Myers joined WBTV in 2019. He was born in Salisbury and raised in Union and Catawba counties. He graduated from high school in Davidson County before studying meteorology at North Carolina State University. He returned to Charlotte after previous jobs in Kentucky, Virginia and Texas.
Myers leaves behind his wife of 20 years and their four children.
Chip Tayag joined WBTV in 2017 and had over 20 years of experience as a pilot. He logged over 2,000 hours in the helicopter during his time with WBTV.
A witness said they believed Tayag saved lives by making a last-second maneuver to avoid crashing into the highway. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings shared the same sentiments on Twitter after the crash, saying Tayag prevented a greater tragedy.
"The pilot is a hero in my eyes," Jennings said. "Witnesses indicated that the pilot made diversionary moves away from the highway to save lives. Because of his heroic acts, there were no further injuries or vehicles on the highway involved in the incident."
Despite saying the pilot did not transmit any distress call before the crash, the final NTSB report released Thursday does say Tayag made at least a brief radio transmission indicating they were "going down."
WCNC Charlotte continues to offer our heartfelt condolences to both Jason and Chip's families as well as our colleagues at WBTV.