Crews Recover Helicopter Wreckage From Fatal Biscayne Bay Crash

Crews working with the National Transportation Safety Board recovered the partially submerged Robinson R44 helicopter on Friday. The wreckage was being taken to Matheson Hammock Park & Marina, where it could be removed from the water and secured for examination. Divers had attached flotation devices and lines to the aircraft before the salvage operation began.

The helicopter went down on Wednesday morning about two miles west of Key Biscayne, near Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. The aircraft departed from Pembroke Pines’ North Perry Airport at 10:10 a.m. Authorities received a distress transmission at 11:20 a.m.; an investigator said a boat participating in a speedboat poker run called for help.

The three people aboard were filming boats during the event. Pilot Thomas Pendas, 63, died. Passengers Ryan McCoy, 52, and Ryan Ferraro, 27, were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. McCoy had been discharged by Friday morning, while Ferraro remained in intensive care. Another account said both survivors had been released from the hospital.

The NTSB said it will examine the aircraft and consider the people involved, the helicopter and operating conditions, including the environment. The Federal Aviation Administration and NTSB are investigating. The NTSB expects to issue a preliminary report within two weeks and a final report within 18 months.