New York Times: The Bell 206L helicopter, the model of the one that crashed in the Hudson, is widely used.
Information about the sightseeing helicopter that crashed into the Hudson River, killing six people. The Bell 206L LongRanger, is a common single-engine aircraft long used for law enforcement missions, medical lifts, newsgathering and aerial tourism.
With upkeep, the model is seen as safe and reliable, according to Greg Feith, a former National Transportation Safety Board investigator who has flown one.
