The pilot of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter flew into clouds last year in an apparent violation of federal standards, US safety investigators have said.

Ara Zobayan had been flying under visual flight rules on 26 January last year, which meant he needed to be able to see where he was going.

But Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said he was likely to have become disorientated.

Mr Zobayan flew the aircraft to climb sharply and had nearly broken through the clouds when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into the Southern California hills.

The crash killed basketball star Bryant along with eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and the pilot.

No ‘black box’ recording devices were on the helicopter, as these were not legally required.

The NTSB had previously ruled out mechanical failure, saying the crash was believed to have been an accident.

The helicopter had no terrain awareness warning system, which would have told the pilot when the aircraft was in danger of crashing.

The NTSB has recommended that these be mandatory for all helicopters, instead of just air ambulances as is currently the case.

Politicians have sponsored the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act to mandate the system on every helicopter that carries six or more passengers.

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