NTSB to Release Factual Reports on Fatal 2009 Helicopter Accident in Louisiana

Jan. 6, 2010
On Jan. 4, 2009, a Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopter crashed into swampy terrain just north of the Gulf of Mexico coastline near Morgan City, LA, and eight were killed.

The National Transportation Safety Board will open its public docket Thursday on a January 2009 helicopter accident that killed 8 persons.

On January 4, 2009, a Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopter (N748P), operated by PHI, Inc., crashed into swampy terrain just north of the Gulf of Mexico coastline near Morgan City, Louisiana. The aircraft was on a Part 135 revenue flight to an oil platform when it crashed about 7 minutes after takeoff. Eight of the nine persons aboard lost their lives.

The docket will contain factual reports prepared by the investigative team, including reports on aircraft structures, aircraft systems, the transcript of the cockpit voice recorder, and toxicology reports. A comprehensive materials laboratory report on the windscreen structure and a report on the flight data recorder information will be added to the docket in the next several weeks.

The docket will be published on the Board's website at www.ntsb.gov, under "Accident Dockets" on the home page, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Thursday, January 7. No determination of cause will be rendered at this time. This is a factual release only; no interviews will be conducted by NTSB personnel.