Helicopter Carrying Kobe Made Climbing Turn Before Rapid Dive

The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team of investigators to the site. The NTSB typically issues a preliminary report within about 10 days of a crash that gives a rough summary of what the investigators have learned. A ruling on the cause of an aviation crash can take a year or more.

Among many other things, investigators will look at the pilot’s history, the helicopter’s maintenance history and the records of its owner and operator, NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy said at a news conference.

Zobayan was certified to fly commercial helicopters and had no records of accidences, incidents or enforcement actions with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

An FAA aircraft-registration database showed that the helicopter was a 1991 Sikorsky S-76B model owned by a company named Island Express Holding Corp. It was previously owned by the state of Illinois, according to the database.