FAA is asked to address slackline issues in light of fatal helicopter crash
By Dan Thesman on Monday, February 16th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A helicopter crash in Arizona that took the lives of four people from Eastern Oregon is under investigation by the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) on Jan. 2 and that investigation will probably take over a year to complete. That’s prompted Oregon’s delegation to the U.S. Senate to call on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement emergency safety regulations in the wake of the crash to help prevent other tragedies.
The helicopter, piloted by David McCarty, a La Grande business owner living in Baker County with roots in Echo, struck a slackline suspended across Telegraph Canyon in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest. He and three nieces were killed in the crash. The passengers were Rachel McCarty and Faith McCarty of Echo and Katelyn Heideman of Hermiston.
“While a thorough investigation is necessary to develop comprehensive, data-based recommendations, it is clear that immediate action must be taken to prevent another similar tragedy,” Sen. Ron Wyden and Sen. Jeff Merkley wrote to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
The specific questions they asked Bedford to answer include how the FAA currently regulates slackline visibility and notifications for pilots; what is being done to ensure awareness of existing FAA regulations; how will you work with other agencies to share your policies; are you considering any immediate adjustments to current policies; are there any options the FAA could explore related to standardized marking, lighting, or other visual measures to make slacklines more easily identified both during daytime and nighttime operations; and will the FAA consider implementing a temporary flight restriction over slacklines as a precautionary and interim measure until the NTSB issues its final recommendations.
File photo of the fuselage damaged in the Arizona crash
