Belle Isle Chopper Crash Kills Two
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Contact photographer Cory Watts
What: Cenac Marine Services Robinson R-44 en route from Houma-Terrebonne
Where: Belle Isle
When: January 19, 2012
Who: 2 fatalities
Why: After taking off from Houma-Terrebonne airport, the chopper crashed a few miles from East Bay and the Gulf of Mexico in a marshy area. Flames from the crash were seen from a distance. Hunters and fishermen in the area called 911 to report the helicopter afire. The crash claimed the lives of those aboard. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries assisted along with several agencies with search, rescue, and recovery.
Pilot Jason McKean, and Lanny Ledet had been on the way to an alligator-industry conference in Plaquemines Parish.
Jason McKean had been flying for twenty years. The bodies of the victims were recovered 13 miles southwest of Morgan City.
The cause of the crash is unknown. The FAA is investigating. Tje MTSB saod there was no indication that anything broke off the helicopter before the crash. The final report will not be due for another eighteen months.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 369TL Make/Model: R44 Description: R-44 Astro
Date: 01/19/2012 Time: 1555
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing:N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: BELLE ISLE State: LA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
N369TL ROBINSON R44 ROTORCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE 2
PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, NEAR BELLE ISLE, LA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 2
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: 191255Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM OVC018 07/06 A3012
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: BATON ROUGE, LA (SW03) Entry date: 01/20/2012