A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plane used a green laser Saturday to search the Potomac River for helicopter parts amid the investigation into the Jan. 29 collision.

The NOAA light detection and ranging (lidar) uses the laser pulse to collect data underwater and on land. The agency’s flight was scheduled by the National Transportation Safety Board for Friday before being moved to 2-5 a.m. Saturday due to bad weather, the board said in an investigation update.

While much of the Black Hawk wreckage was recovered and removed from the river via barge Saturday, other parts like the right engine and tail rotor still need to be recovered.

Parts from the civilian plane involved, a Bombardier CRJ700, were recovered earlier in the week and Friday.

The collision killed all 67 people on board both aircraft: the three soldiers aboard the helicopter and the four crew members and 60 passengers on American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas.

The helicopter was on a training flight, and the plane was on its way to landing at Reagan Washington National Airport at the time of the crash.

The NTSB said earlier this week that it needs the Black Hawk recovered to verify data from its final flight. Data from the air traffic control tower in the area showed the helicopter had risen 300 feet when it collided, higher than it should have gone.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.