Federal Officials Investigating Louisiana Crash
What: Sikorsky S-76C helicopter, operated by PHI Inc
Where: Louisiana marshland – Bayou Penchant area about 100 miles from New Orleans in southwestern Terrebonne Parish
When: Sunday Jan. 4, 2009
Who: eight fatalities, one survivor. The helicoptor was carrying two pilots and seven passengers The dead were identified as Allen Boudreaux, of Ama, La.; Andrew Moricio and Ezequiel Cantu of Morgan City, La.; Randy Tarpley of Jonesville, La.; Jorey A. Rivero, of Bridge City, La.; Charles W. Nelson of Pensacola, Fla.; Thomas E. Ballenger of Eufaula, Ala. and Vyarl W. Martin of Hurst, Texas. The injured survivor is Steven Yeltin was medevacted; he is listed as being in critical condition and is awaiting to be transferred to Oschner Medical Center from the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma. Mike Moreno, CEO of the Moreno Group along with Dynamic Industries, employed five of the victims.
Why: The helicopter is believed to have crashed about seven minutes after it took off at 3 p.m, A distress signal was received just after 3. The NTSB investigation is well underway and the black box has already been recovered.