ntsb will be here to begin its investigation today. as you mentioned, the horrible moment of impact here on the east river was caught on tape. this private sightseeing helicopter owned by liberty helicopter tours crashed about 11 minutes after departing new jersey. six people, including the pilot were on board. the pilot who who sources have identified to us as richard vance made a frantic may day call to laguardia tower and said his engine failed. he was able to free himself from that chopper. unfortunately his five passengers harnessed in. and trapped in frigid sub40-degree frigid water. recounted for us what it was like watching the pilot free himself. one person sort of climbed out of the helicopter and climbed onto the raft and was calling, screaming for help.
50 feet of water there, there was a four mil an hour current. the temperature s below 40. reporter: the crash occurring just after 7:00 p.m., local time and manhattan s upper left side. the helicopter is loning by liberty helicopter tours. authorities say it was privately chartered for a photo shoot. in 2009, nine people were killed and another helicopter was police say a private tug boat was the first vessel on the scene and helped with the rescue efforts. great trajly on a otherwise quiet sunday evening. reporter: remarkable for the mts b that it has the photographic evidence of the moment this crasher crashed into the water, that will be very very valuable for that. in addition, it s already tweeting out rg asking anyone