U.S. board urges helicopter manufacturers to install black boxes after Kobe Bryant's death

Months after Kobe Bryant's death, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board finally is urging helicopter manufacturers to make some changes. On Tuesday, the NTSB reportedly pushed major helicopter manufacturers to equip all helicopters with crash-resistant systems, also known as black boxes, to record data, audio and images, according to FOX Business. 

Among the manufacturers urged to make changes are Airbus Helicopters, Bell (unit of Textron Inc. Leonardo), MD Helicopters, Robinson Helicopter Co. and Sikorsky. While U.S. regulators have not backed mandating the equipment, the NTSB sees it as essential seeing as how the information provided by black boxes can help to explain why aircrafts crash.

Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. in January. All passengers on board the flight died instantly upon impact, according to newly revealed details. The helicopter was a twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B and was not equipped with flight recording data or a cockpit voice recorder.

The NTSB cited seven helicopter investigations from 2011-17 in which the lack of data hindered them from identifying and addressing safety issues. FOX Business adds that the NTSB also said 86 % of 185 helicopter accidents from 2005-17 had no recording equipment installed.

Bryant's wife Vanessa filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the helicopter company, Island Express Helicopters, and pilot Ara Zobayan in February following the death of her husband and daughter. She claims the Zobayan was careless and negligent by flying in cloudy conditions on the day all passengers aboard the aircraft were killed.

Island Express Helicopters and the brother of Zobayan responded to the lawsuit last month saying all passengers were aware of and "had actual knowledge of all of the circumstances, particular dangers, and an appreciation of the risks involved and the magnitude thereof." They also added that all passengers therefore "assumed the risk of the accident, injury, and damages."