Pilot killed and two injured in Biscayne Bay helicopter crash

The helicopter went down at about 11:15 a.m. on November 4 near Nixon Beach sandbar in Biscayne Bay, between Coral Gables and Key Biscayne. Pendas, 63, died at the scene. The two passengers, Ryan McCoy, 52, and Ryan Ferraro, 27, sustained minor injuries and were released from hospital by November 5.

The aircraft was being used to film boats, with authorities saying it was documenting the Poker Run speedboat event. It was registered to Global Aerials Inc., a Pembroke Pines company owned by Pendas, who was also identified as the company’s president. The helicopter was a Robinson R44.

A boater who witnessed the crash called for help and tried to resuscitate Pendas. Customs and Border Protection officers assisted in bringing the survivors to shore, and emergency crews took them for medical care. Investigators returned to the water on November 5 as crews worked to recover the submerged wreckage, which officials said would be a difficult operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating. The NTSB said it was examining the pilot, the aircraft and environmental factors, including records and the recovered wreckage. The agency was scheduled to provide further information at a news conference in Coral Gables on November 5.