BILOXI, Miss.-The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report - with photographs - on Jan. 13 detailing a Dec. 29 fatal helicopter crash in the Gulf of Mexico, off the shores of Louisiana. The crash took the lives of four people - two from Mississippi. The Bell 407 helicopter left GAO airport in Galliano, La., headed for the West Delta 106 offshore platform. It landed on the platform with four passengers. Three people on the platform got onto the helicopter and were to head back to the mainland. There were no eyewitnesses or video of the helicopter taking off, but some platform workers reported hearing engine noises increase for takeoff, then the sound of items hitting the platform. Individuals reported going outside, where they saw the helicopter fuselage floating in the water. Photos show the area where a chain link perimeter on the helipad was damaged and a portion of a main rotor blade that broke off during the crash. Photos also show a light from the perimeter of the helipad was damaged and part of the helicopter- the upper hydraulic servo cover. Investigators found debris - consistent with materials "used to construct the main rotor blades.” On Jan. 2, the helicopter fuselage and tail boom were transported to a facility in Baton Rouge. The engine control unit was removed and shipped to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory. A second perimeter light, as well as the cockpit’s image recorder, was missing and was not recovered. NTSB says this is a preliminary report, and information is subject to change. (WLOX 01/13/23) PHOTOS: New report details helicopter breaking apart before crashing into Gulf, killing 4 (wdam.com)
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