This Robinson R44 is similar to the model owned by Cenac Marine Services in Houma that crashed in the marsh near Belle Isle east of the Wax Lake Outlet. The aircraft is a four-seat piston engine helicopter that was holding two men who died in the incident. The helicopter departed a Houma airfield at 8:27 a.m. today and the first reports of its demise came in at 9:01 a.m.
Two men were killed when their helicopter crashed in the marsh near Belle Isle, south of Calumet, around 9 a.m. today.
The Robinson R44 helicopter, owned by Cenac Towing in Houma, took off from a Houma airfield at 8:27 a.m. with two men on board, according to Ken Perry of Perry Flying Center in Patterson. Perry was assisting officials in their investigation of the incident.
The identities of the men killed had not been released as of press time. The coroner had yet to identify the victims and notify their families. Also, Cenac was not prepared to release any information as the company still was gathering facts when The Daily Review called this morning.
Perry said the helicopter was not required to file a flight plan, so no information on their destination was immediately available. However, this type of aircraft is typically used for pipeline inspection and training runs. It is not used offshore as it is too lightweight, he said.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, U.S. Coast Guard and oilfield workers in the area were assisting in the accident. Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board officials are en route to St. Mary Parish to investigate the accident.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office has a command center located on La. 317 at the Cabot boat landing.
Post a Comment
