May I express sympathy with all of those who have lost as a result of hurricane 'Katrina'.
This is a fuller version of the accident that happened on the 18th August and which was posted earlier.
NTSB Identification: DFW05FA217
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, August 18, 2005 in
Aircraft: Bell 206B, registration: N167H
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 18, 2005, approximately 1410 central daylight time, a single-engine Bell 206B helicopter, N167H, registered to and operated by Air Logistics LLC of New Iberia, Louisiana, was destroyed when it impacted water following a collision with an oil platform while landing on an offshore oil platform, West Cameron (WC) 560 located in the Gulf of Mexico. The commercial pilot and mechanic received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 positioning flight. The local flight originated from a nearby platform, WC 645 at 13:59.
Two witnesses on the oil platform at the time of the accident reported the helicopter approached the platform from the south. The witnesses then stated that as the helicopter headed for the heliport, it "sounded like it lost power and started dropping rapidly." The witnesses lost sight of the helicopter as it descended below the platform's living quarters. They then heard the helicopter contact the oil platform and fall into the water below. The emergency floats did not deploy and the helicopter quickly sank.
The helicopter was retrieved from approximately 190 feet of water, and transported to a secured maintenance facility located in New Iberia, Louisiana.