#U.S. OCTOBER 5, 2017 / 12:30 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO

U.S. probing collision between civilian drone, Army helicopter

David Shepardson
3 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the Sept. 21 collision of a civilian drone and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Staten Island, New York, as concerns mount over the rising number of unmanned aircraft in U.S. airspace.

The safety board said on Thursday the helicopter had landed safely but that its main rotor blade, window frame and transmission deck were damaged.

Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division, said the Army had concluded that the helicopter was not being targeted and was struck by a drone being operated by a hobbyist.

The helicopter was flying at about 500 feet (152 m) when the drone struck the side of the aircraft, he said. The helicopter was repaired within 24 hours with only minor damage and was in New York to assist in security efforts for the United Nations General Assembly.

The NTSB said it had recovered a motor and arm from the DJI Phantom 4 drone from the helicopter, identified and interviewed the drone operator and reviewed data logs for the flight.

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