GOM EC-120 Accident
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 803
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From: Pensacola, Florida
GOM EC-120 Accident
Sad to say, it appears there was a fatal accident involving one of Era's EC-120s around midday today in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Apparently there were two persons on board. No details yet.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 59
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From: Greater Dubach Metro Area
Here's an update from Aero-News.net ...
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?C...7-dd98bc5cb00c
Crew Missing After Helo Crash At Offshore Oil Platform
Mon, 12 Feb '07
Coast Guard And Others Mounting Search
ANN has learned a chopper crashed during a landing attempt on an oil production platform in the Gulf of Mexico at approximately 08:30 local Monday.
According to a National Weather Service notification report on the accident -- sent in by an ANN News Spy -- the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC120B operated by Era Helicopters of Lake Charles, LA. (File photo of type above.)
According to FAA records, the chopper was owned by CFS Air, a limited liability company of Connecticut registry.
An Associated Press report of the crash says the crew of two are listed as missing, while the NWS report say both died.
According to the Associated Press, the US Coast Guard dispatched a search and rescue chopper from its New Orleans station, and a jet from its Aviation Training Center in Mobile, AL, and is working with "good samaritans" and the company in the search effort.
ANN will post more details on this story as they become available.
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?C...7-dd98bc5cb00c
Crew Missing After Helo Crash At Offshore Oil Platform
Mon, 12 Feb '07
Coast Guard And Others Mounting Search
ANN has learned a chopper crashed during a landing attempt on an oil production platform in the Gulf of Mexico at approximately 08:30 local Monday.
According to a National Weather Service notification report on the accident -- sent in by an ANN News Spy -- the aircraft was a Eurocopter EC120B operated by Era Helicopters of Lake Charles, LA. (File photo of type above.)
According to FAA records, the chopper was owned by CFS Air, a limited liability company of Connecticut registry.
An Associated Press report of the crash says the crew of two are listed as missing, while the NWS report say both died.
According to the Associated Press, the US Coast Guard dispatched a search and rescue chopper from its New Orleans station, and a jet from its Aviation Training Center in Mobile, AL, and is working with "good samaritans" and the company in the search effort.
ANN will post more details on this story as they become available.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
He was my friend.
He will be sorely missed.
If you want to see how he lived go to www.helipost.com\shows
and click on life_off.pps
He made this for us so we could see his job.
Hey wlm & 170'
Fly safe.
He will be sorely missed.
If you want to see how he lived go to www.helipost.com\shows
and click on life_off.pps
He made this for us so we could see his job.
Hey wlm & 170'
Fly safe.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania, USA
The EC 120 stuck the flare boom on the VR 200 platform on short final. The wreckage was recoverd late last night and bodies flown back to the shore. Weather was VMC, and accident investigators are on site.
My deepest sympathy to both families in this terrible acident.
My deepest sympathy to both families in this terrible acident.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,197
Likes: 1
From: UK
KPLC-TV Lake Charles, LA
Very sad.
Officials at Era Helicopters LLC and the United States Coast Guard report the recovery of two persons killed in a helicopter accident Monday morning approximately 65-miles south of Intracoastal City, Louisiana.
The bodies of the pilot, Denver, Colorado resident John Lancaster, age 46, and his passenger, David Thibodeaux, age 33, of Abbeville, were recovered along with the helicopter wreckage at approximately 10:30 p.m. Monday following an extensive search of the accident area. Mr. Lancaster was employed by Era since July 2006. Mr. Thibodaux was employed as a production operator by Wood Group Production Services, Inc., of Houma, Louisiana.
The accident occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m. Monday as the helicopter, a Eurocopter EC120, was attempting a landing on an oil and gas production platform located in Vermilion block 200. There were no other passengers on board and no apparent witnesses to the accident.
"All of us at Era Helicopters are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and co-worker and his passenger. This is a terrible tragedy for both these men and their families and we continue to hold the families of these victims in our thoughts and prayers. Over the next several days we will work in cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and other agencies to determine what happened and why, and to ensure the safety of all our flight operations," said Neill Osborne, President of Lake Charles, Louisiana-based Era Helicopters.
"We are grateful for the cooperation of the United States Coast Guard, FAA and other responding agencies who assisted in the rescue and recovery operations and extend our thanks to them," Osborne said.
The bodies and the aircraft wreckage were recovered in approximately 100 feet of water near the platform. Early indications are that the helicopter may have come in inadvertent contact with the platform while seeking to make a routine landing. No cause for the accident has yet been determined.
The bodies of the pilot, Denver, Colorado resident John Lancaster, age 46, and his passenger, David Thibodeaux, age 33, of Abbeville, were recovered along with the helicopter wreckage at approximately 10:30 p.m. Monday following an extensive search of the accident area. Mr. Lancaster was employed by Era since July 2006. Mr. Thibodaux was employed as a production operator by Wood Group Production Services, Inc., of Houma, Louisiana.
The accident occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m. Monday as the helicopter, a Eurocopter EC120, was attempting a landing on an oil and gas production platform located in Vermilion block 200. There were no other passengers on board and no apparent witnesses to the accident.
"All of us at Era Helicopters are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and co-worker and his passenger. This is a terrible tragedy for both these men and their families and we continue to hold the families of these victims in our thoughts and prayers. Over the next several days we will work in cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, and other agencies to determine what happened and why, and to ensure the safety of all our flight operations," said Neill Osborne, President of Lake Charles, Louisiana-based Era Helicopters.
"We are grateful for the cooperation of the United States Coast Guard, FAA and other responding agencies who assisted in the rescue and recovery operations and extend our thanks to them," Osborne said.
The bodies and the aircraft wreckage were recovered in approximately 100 feet of water near the platform. Early indications are that the helicopter may have come in inadvertent contact with the platform while seeking to make a routine landing. No cause for the accident has yet been determined.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Flight is freedom in its purest form,
To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;
To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,
To feel the joy that swells within;
To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,
And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;
Then back to earth at the end of a day,
Released from the tensions which melted away.
Should my end come while I am in flight,
Whether brightest day or darkest night;
Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain,
Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again;
For each of us is created to die,
And within me I know, I was born to fly.
Later John......
Gordy
To dance with the clouds which follow a storm;
To roll and glide, to wheel and spin,
To feel the joy that swells within;
To leave the earth with its troubles and fly,
And know the warmth of a clear spring sky;
Then back to earth at the end of a day,
Released from the tensions which melted away.
Should my end come while I am in flight,
Whether brightest day or darkest night;
Spare me your pity and shrug off the pain,
Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again;
For each of us is created to die,
And within me I know, I was born to fly.
Later John......
Gordy
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Native Colorado
Hello, I am not a pilot but I wanted to submit a post here.
I knew John for several years and know his wife. I was John's Chiropractor when he was an instructor at Vail Ski School for many years. After he left Colorado, I would see him from time to time when he would be back in Denver on his breaks from flight school and while he worked in Minnesota.
He will be sorely missed as a generous loving good soul on this earth. He loved skiing and teaching and his passion turned to flying. It is difficult to find a better man.
God Bless John
I knew John for several years and know his wife. I was John's Chiropractor when he was an instructor at Vail Ski School for many years. After he left Colorado, I would see him from time to time when he would be back in Denver on his breaks from flight school and while he worked in Minnesota.
He will be sorely missed as a generous loving good soul on this earth. He loved skiing and teaching and his passion turned to flying. It is difficult to find a better man.
God Bless John
Last edited by RedDawn22; 20th February 2007 at 01:20.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Pennsylvania, USA
I never new John personally, and I had exchanged Pm's on this forum with him concerning work in the off shore industry before he joined Era, I couldn't believe he was
Flyingwing207. A great shame.....
Flyingwing207. A great shame.....
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Vail
John Lancaster
Thank you jeffery1 for the link to John L's slideshow.
It really shows his sense of humor.
It also lets those of us who only knew him in Vail understand why he chose to leave. Wow! The 'copter he flew is fantastic. I've put in some hours as a passenger while working on gas pipeline as a surveyor. I can appreciate the incredible machine that he flew.
If you know of any other links, pictures or such, I would love to be able to share them with his wife and friends.
Thanks again for your condolences.
Fly safe!
bobopp
It really shows his sense of humor.
It also lets those of us who only knew him in Vail understand why he chose to leave. Wow! The 'copter he flew is fantastic. I've put in some hours as a passenger while working on gas pipeline as a surveyor. I can appreciate the incredible machine that he flew.
If you know of any other links, pictures or such, I would love to be able to share them with his wife and friends.
Thanks again for your condolences.
Fly safe!
bobopp
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Vail
John Lancaster
Thank you Gordy, for the poem.
It explains perfectly why John chose to do what he did.
If I may, I'd like to share it with his friends and family when the time is appropriate.
We'll miss him,
bobopp
It explains perfectly why John chose to do what he did.
If I may, I'd like to share it with his friends and family when the time is appropriate.
We'll miss him,
bobopp