Clues sought in crash

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Jan 6, 2009 - Page: 1BA - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Authorities searched a southern Louisiana marsh by boat Monday for clues that might determine what caused a helicopter crash that killed eight people bound for an offshore oil platform.

The crash occurred at 2:10 p.m. Sunday in rural Terrebonne Parish about 10 miles south of Morgan City.

It 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 the helicopter, which departed from PHI’s Amelia operating base, according to a statement released by PHI on Monday.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Five of the passengers were employees of Dynamic Industries, an offshore service company in New Iberia.

Two were employed by MMR Offshore Services, of Baton Rouge.

PHI identified the dead as Dynamic employees Allen Boudreaux, of Ama; Andrew Moricio, Morgan City; Ezequiel Cantu, Morgan City; Randy Tarpley, Jonesville; and MMR employees Charles W. Nelson, of Pensacola, Fla., and Jorey A. Rivero, of Bridge City.

The PHI pilots were identified as Thomas E. Ballenger, of Eufaula, Ala., the pilot-in-command; and Vyarl W. Martin, of Hurst, Texas, second-in-command.

Injured in the crash was Steven Yeltin, of Floresville, Texas.

Yeltin was transported to Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and is listed in critical condition.

Both companies are Shell contractors, according to Robin Lebovitz, of Shell.

“Our thoughts, prayers and sympathy are with the family and friends of the deceased and injured,” Lebovitz wrote in an e-mail.