Gulf Helicopter Crash Kills Two Near Oil Rig

A gulf helicopter crash has killed two people after a Bell 206-L4 aircraft went down while approaching an oil rig in the South Timbalier Block 317 of Terrebonne Bay.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, the cause of a Grand Canyon helicopter crash that killed a pilot was unknown. But stranger yet was the circumstances that caused a crop duster plane to crash into a McDonald’s parking lot.

Reports say the gulf helicopter crash took place this past Wednesday afternoon. In response to the accident, the oil rig crew deployed a life raft and the Coast Guard launched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station New Orleans, and an HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft from the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center. The Coast Guard also sent in a 87-foot patrol boat called the Sturgeon, in hopes of finding any survivors.

Ryan McNeill, a trainer for Lafayette company Safety Management Systems, says the people involved in the gulf helicopter crash would have been trained on how to deal with such a worse case scenario:

“As far as helicopters go, most individuals that work in the oil and gas industry in order to work offshore are required to go through a minimal water survival as well as HUET, which stands for helicopter underwater egression training. Statistics have proven that in the event of a helicopter crash that people with the training have greater chance of survival versus people without the training…. Pilots are trained to take their helicopters down in a controlled manner. But as we’ve seen in this crash, it’s not always up to them to be able to take it down the way they can and be able to do their best.”

Unfortunately, the two passengers aboard the aircraft did not survive the crash, and Westwind Helicopter Inc. has released a statement naming the victims of the Gulf of Mexico helicopter crash:

“The deceased have been recovered thanks to the tireless efforts of U.S. Coast Guard first responders and others on the scene. Westwind is saddened to report that its pilot, George LeLoup of Britt, Minn., was killed along with Rory Bourgeois, an HVAC Technician with BNA Marine Services. Everyone at Westwind offers their deepest condolences to George’s family and friends and to the family and friends of Mr. Bourgeois. We are keeping those affected in our prayers during this difficult time.”

Westwind also confirmed they are working with the National Transportation Safety Board investigators to determine the cause of the gulf helicopter crash.