- The basketball icon Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash on Sunday in Calabasas, California. He was 41.
- Bryant was with eight others in his private helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76B, a model with a strong safety record and a reputation for serving as a reliable VIP and corporate transport.
- Bryant’s use of the helicopter to avoid traffic between his Orange County home and Los Angeles was well known, with Bryant offering the helicopter to help teammates get to doctors appointments.
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The basketball icon Kobe Bryant was killed in a crash of his private helicopter on Sunday in Calabasas, California.
Pepperdine Graphic, Pepperdine University’s student-run newspaper, published a tweet Sunday that showed what appeared to be an image of the helicopter and smoke in the distance.
All nine people aboard the helicopter were killed, including Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant.
The helicopter was said to be traveling to Bryant’s Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball practice.
Bryant's use of the private helicopter became well known as the Los Angeles Lakers great used it to beat Los Angeles traffic and even help teammates get to doctors appointments.
According to a GQ profile in 2010, Bryant would use the helicopter to fly from his home in Orange County to Lakers home games and elsewhere. Bryant reportedly took advantage of the helicopter to help stay fit for games:
"But sexy as it might seem, Bryant says the helicopter is just another tool for maintaining his body. It's no different than his weights or his whirlpool tubs or his custom-made Nikes. Given his broken finger, his fragile knees, his sore back and achy feet, not to mention his chronic agita, Bryant can't sit in a car for two hours. The helicopter, therefore, ensures that he gets to Staples Center feeling fresh, that his body is warm and loose and fluid as mercury when he steps onto the court."
Bryant's helicopter was a Sikorsky S-76, a type that has had a relatively good safety record since its first flight in 1977. It was owned by Island Express Holding Corp., a helicopter operating company.
In statements, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it had a team responding to the crash site.
Here is what we know about Bryant's helicopter and the Sikorsky S-76.
This article has been updated with the latest death toll from the crash.
The NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed Sunday when his private helicopter crashed.
Bryant's private helicopter was a Sikorsky S-76.
The aircraft type first flew in 1977.
His specific helicopter — registration N72EX — was built in 1991. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, it was owned by Island Express Holding Corp., a private helicopter transport company.
It was not immediately clear whether Bryant would charter the helicopter or leased it full time.
The Sikorsky S-76 was first designed as a medium helicopter for corporate transportation, especially within the oil industry, where executives were traveling between land and off-shore drilling platforms.
Although the S-76 was designed for commercial use, it took design inspiration from the UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter.
It's found a niche in numerous roles over the years, including medical transportation.
The helicopter Bryant was in was a S-76B variant, which was first introduced in 1987.
The S-76 features twin turboshaft engines that drive one four-bladed main rotor and a four-bladed tail rotor.
It's relatively larger and more complex than many other civilian helicopters — which has contributed to a strong safety record over its 40-plus years in service.
Its safety record has been largely attributed to its twin-turbine design, along with more rigorous training standards than some other civilian models and the fact that it's frequently flown by two pilots, unlike many civilian helicopters.
Source: FlightSafety International
Still, there have been several incidents, most recently a 2017 crash in Turkey, which appeared to be caused by a combination of poor visibility and pilot error.
The S-76 has been a successful helicopter for corporate and VIP transportation. Its large cabin is especially geared toward comfortable configurations, and it is coupled with its relative safety and strong performance parameters. Even Queen Elizabeth II has been flown in a Sikorsky S-76.
It was not immediately clear what caused Bryant's helicopter to crash.
