S. 36Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Kobe Bryant & Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act

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Updated February 7, 2026 at 9:33 PM UTC

The Kobe Bryant & Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act directs the FAA to require certain larger turbine‑powered helicopters to carry key safety equipment. It targets U.S.-registered rotorcraft certified for six or more passenger seats, aiming to prevent future crashes like the 2020 incident that killed Kobe Bryant and others. The bill requires the FAA to issue regulations within 90 days and sets compliance deadlines for operators. It also allows limited exemptions, which must be reported to Congress.

Key Provisions

The FAA Administrator must issue regulations, within 90 days of enactment, mandating flight data recorders, cockpit voice recorders, and terrain awareness and warning systems on all existing and new turbine‑powered helicopters with six or more passenger seats.
Operators must install the required equipment no later than one year after the regulations take effect, or up to two years if the FAA determines a longer period is appropriate.
The FAA may grant exemptions for specific civilian helicopters, but must submit a report describing any exemptions to the relevant House and Senate committees.
The requirements apply only to U.S.-registered helicopters meeting the size and power criteria, not to smaller or non‑turbine aircraft.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S150)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

January 25, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 25, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S150)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

January 25, 2021

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 36 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Dianne FeinsteinD-CA · Jan 26, 2021

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act''. I'm pleased to be joined today by Senators Schumer, Blumenthal, and Markey in reintroducing this…

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act''.

I'm pleased to be joined today by Senators Schumer, Blumenthal, and Markey in reintroducing this bill.

Nearly one year ago today, on January 26, 2020, a helicopter carrying nine Californians flew into foggy weather and crashed minutes later. Los Angeles and the world soon learned that among the crash victims were basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna.

After the crash, we soon learned the names and stories of John, Alyssa, and Keri Altobelli; Sarah and Payton Chester; Christina Mauser; and Ara Zobayan. These were spirited friends and family members connected by their love of sport, traveling to a weekend basketball tournament.

The sudden and shocking nature of the accident touched many, and the public remembrances in Los Angeles and around the world to honor the victims are proof that their memories will not soon be forgotten.

But this tragedy is one that could have been averted. A preliminary report and investigatory documents released by the National Transportation Safety Board indicate the helicopter was flying through thick clouds and fog, yet was not equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system. This technology provides pilots with real-time, inflight warning signals and an image of surrounding terrain.

Since 2006, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that all new and existing helicopters capable of carrying six or more passengers be equipped with terrain awareness and warning system technology. However, FAA has only required these warning systems for air ambulances.

Nevertheless, this technology has become standard on new helicopters from Airbus, Bell, Leonardo, and Sikorsky since December 2018. But older helicopters remain vulnerable.

Our bill also requires crash-resistant flight data and voice recorders. Otherwise known as black boxes, this technology is important for when accidents do happen and mistakes are made. It would allow agencies like the NTSB to have a better understanding of the incident and provide more information to the FAA to prevent future accidents.

It is clear that additional steps are needed to ensure that helicopters can fly safely, both for the sake of passengers and those on the ground.

Our bill offers a common-sense approach to preventing further accidents like this one. It would simply direct the FAA to implement the NTSB's recommendations to require terrain awareness and warning systems and flight data and voice recorders on all helicopters carrying six or more passengers.

I appreciate the hard work of the National Transportation Safety Board in developing these important recommendations, and it is long past time that the FAA heeds its call.

My thoughts continue to be with the victims and their loved ones impacted by this heartbreaking accident. It is critical that Congress pass our bill swiftly to ensure that such loss of life was not in vain.

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 25, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 36

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 25, 2021

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To require certain helicopters to be equipped with safety technologies, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Kobe Bryant & Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act.

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

The January 26, 2020, helicopter crash near Calabasas, California, in which 9 individuals lost their lives, was a tragic event.

(2)

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have noted that the helicopter involved in the fatal January crash was not equipped with a Flight Data Recorder (FDR), a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), or a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS).

(3)

The NTSB has investigated numerous tragic helicopter accidents, including the crash of a helicopter in the Gulf of Mexico in 2004, in which 10 individuals lost their lives, and a crash in Missouri in 2011, in which 4 individuals lost their lives.

(4)

The NTSB has provided recommendations to the FAA regarding equipping helicopters with crash-resistant Flight Data Recorders, Cockpit Voice Recorders, and Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems.

(5)

The FAA has not acted on several NTSB recommendations for increased helicopter safety technologies that could potentially avert future tragedies.

Implementation of NTSB recommendations

(a)

In general

Subject to subsections (b) and (c), not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue such regulations as are necessary to implement the following NTSB recommendations for crash-resistant systems, but only with respect to existing and new U.S.-registered turbine-powered rotorcraft certificated for 6 or more passenger seats:

(1)

Safety Recommendation A–06–017, issued on March 7, 2006 (relating to requiring all rotorcraft operating under parts 91 and 135 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, with a transport-category certification to be equipped with a cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and a flight data recorder (FDR) or an onboard cockpit image recorder with the capability of recording cockpit audio, crew communications, and aircraft parametric data).

(2)

Safety Recommendation A–06–018, issued on March 7, 2006 (relating to not permitting exemptions or exceptions to the flight recorder regulations that allow transport-category rotorcraft to operate without flight recorders, and withdrawing exemptions and exceptions that allow transport-category rotorcraft to operate without flight recorders).

(3)

Safety Recommendation A–06–019 issued on March 24, 2006 (relating to requiring all existing and new U.S.-registered turbine-powered rotorcraft certificated for 6 or more passenger seats to be equipped with a terrain awareness and warning system).

(b)

Timing for equipment compliance

The regulations required to be issued under subsection (a) shall require all U.S.-registered turbine-powered rotorcraft certificated for 6 or more passenger seats to be equipped with a Flight Data Recorder, a Cockpit Voice Recorder, and a Terrain Awareness and Warning System that each meet the respective requirements applicable under such regulations, not later than—

(1)

1 year after the date on which the applicable regulation is issued; or

(2)

2 years after the date on which the applicable regulation is issued, if the Administrator determines appropriate.

(c)

Exemptions

(1)

In general

In issuing the regulations required under subsection (a), the Administrator may exempt any civilian helicopter that the Administrator determines appropriate from 1 or more of the equipment requirements of such regulations.

(2)

Requirements

If the Administrator issues a final regulation that contains an exemption described in paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report describing the exemption, not later than the date on which the final regulation is issued.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the FAA.

(2)

FAA

The term FAA means the Federal Aviation Administration.

(3)

NTSB

The term NTSB means the National Transportation Safety Board.