On March 15, 2013, an Era Helicopters LLC Sikorsky S-76A with three board crashed just before noon in Cameron Parish Louisiana in a remote area of swampy/muddy pastureland with only four-wheeler access.
The helicopter had taken off from Lake Charles Regional Airport. Emergency services responded to the scene, but access was limited to 4 wheel vehicles.
The helicopter was on a maintenance test flight with the pilot and two mechanics aboard. The fatalities were listed as the pilot, William R. Croucher, 69, of California; and two mechanics: Michael Lee Tyree, 55, of Iowa, La., and Timothy Lloyd Goehring, 41, of Sulphur, La.
Era helicopters normally provides transport to oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, but this flight was reported as a maintenance flight.
THe FAA and the NTSB are investigating.
Era Helicopter’s statement:
“We deeply regret this unfortunate accident and we will use all of our resources to support the families of those involved. Our review will continue in concert with the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which has jurisdiction over this matter”
KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News
