Investigators study helicopter crash debris in Tennessee

(AP) — Investigators on Tuesday examined the wreckage of a sightseeing helicopter that crashed and burned near Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee, but said it was too early to tell what caused it to go down.

Luke Schiada, a senior investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said there was evidence that the Bell 206 helicopter made contact with the top of a ridge on the side of a mountain when it crashed Monday afternoon, killing four passengers and the pilot.

The NTSB said it would be reviewing how the helicopter was loaded, the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's background and the wind conditions at the time it crashed, he said.

An investigative report containing the probable cause of the crash could take a year or more, he said, adding the investigation is a "methodical process."

Gary C. Robb, a Kansas City attorney who wrote a book on helicopter crash litigation, said it was far too early to determine the cause of the Sevierville crash, but some helicopter tour operators have been known to be reckless to "thrill the tourists" by flying too close to trees or waterfalls or by dangerous maneuvers.