Copter crash kills eight in Terrebonne
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Authorities today released the names of those involved in a Sunday afternoon helicopter crash that killed eight and injured one about 10 miles south of Morgan City.
The crash occurred about 2:10 p.m. Sunday and involved a PHI, Inc. Sikorsky S76 medium transport helicopter bound for Shell’s South Timbalier 300 Block offshore platform. Seven passengers and two PHI pilots were on board.
Five of the passengers were employees of New Iberia-based Dynamic Industries, an offshore service company. Two were employed by MMR Offshore Services.
Killed in the crash were:
Allen Boudreaux of Ama, a Dynamic employee; Andrew Moricio of Morgan City, a Dynamic employee; Ezequiel Cantu of Morgan City, a Dynamic employee; Randy Tarpley of Jonesville, a Dynamic employee; Charles W. Nelson of Pensacola, an MMR employee; Jorey A. Rivero, Bridge City, a MMR employee.
Thomas E. Ballenger, of Eufaula, Ala., PHI pilot-in-command; and Vyarl W. Martin of Hurst, Texas, PHI second-in command.
Injured in the crash was Steven Yeltin of Floresville, Texas. Yeltin was transported to a New Orleans hospital and is listed in critical condition.
Dynamic released the following statement Monday:
“There is no way to describe the pain of this terrible, terrible tragedy,” Moreno Group CEO Mike Moreno stated in a release. “This is devastating news for the entire Dynamic community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family members of these dedicated employees.”
The National Transportation Safety Board and PHI currently are investigating the crash. The cause remains unknown, but PHI released a news release today stating that additional information would be forthcoming.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to all of the families of those who were on board the aircraft,” wrote Richard Rovinelli, chief administrative officer for PHI.
PHI provides helicopter transportation and related services to the oil and gas industry and air medical industry and third-party maintenance services to select customers.
5:05 a.m.
The Associated Press
HOUMA, Louisiana (AP) — Federal officials on Monday were investigating why a helicopter bound for an offshore oil platform crashed in Louisiana's marshlands, killing eight and critically injuring another.
The helicopter, operated by PHI Inc., crashed shortly after taking off Sunday afternoon from the company's base in Amelia, company spokesman Richard Rovinelli said.
He said the helicopter was carrying two pilots and seven passengers when it went down in the marshy Bayou Penchant area about 100 miles (161 kilometers) from New Orleans. The victims have not been identified by name.
National Transportation Safety Board officials were arriving Monday to investigate the cause of the crash, Rovinelli said. He did not know the type of helicopter or its exact destination.
The Coast Guard assisted Terrebonne Parish sheriff's deputies in recovering the dead and rescuing the unidentified survivor, Petty Officer Jaclyn Young said. A sheriff's office spokesman did not return a phone call seeking comment early Monday morning.
Young said the survivor was in critical condition at Ochsner Medical Facility in suburban New Orleans.
Lafayette-based PHI provides helicopter services to oil and gas platforms that dot Louisiana's coast. It flies workers between their work sites and coastal flight bases. PHI also flies medical helicopters.
In June, a PHI Air Medical helicopter crashed in the Sam Houston National Forest of Texas, killing the pilot, a paramedic, a nurse and a patient. The crew had agreed to transport the patient from Huntsville to Houston, after another helicopter company abandoned the mission saying that cloud cover was too low, making visibility poor.
12:05 a.m.
Advocate staff report
A helicopter carrying nine people crashed Sunday afternoon near Bayou Penchant in Terrebonne Parish, killing eight of the people on board, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The lone survivor was hospitalized and as of 9 p.m. Sunday, the Coast Guard did not have the names of the victims, Coast Guard spokeswoman Jaclyn Young said.
The helicopter, operated by PHI Inc., crashed about 3:30 p.m. shortly after taking off from PHI’s base in Amelia, said Richard Rovinelli, a spokesman for the company. The cause of the crash isn’t clear.
Rovinelli did not know the type of helicopter or its exact destination.
Young said the survivor was being transported to Ochsner Medical Facility in New Orleans.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators were expected to arrive today, Rovinelli said.
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