Eight people were killed after a PHI, Inc. helicopter crashed on Sunday in a marshy area of Terrebonne Parish, 100 miles southwest of New Orleans. Coast Guard officer Jaclyn Young indicated there were nine people on board when the aircraft went down near Bayou Penchant at 3:30 p.m.
The chopper had just taken off from its operating base in Amelia and was taking a group to an offshore oil platform according to PHI Human Resources Director Richard Ravinelli. The U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center in Virginia picked up the initial distress call and alerted the New Orleans Coast Guard. They launched a HH-65C rescue helicopter to the scene of the accident.
The surviving passenger, 28 years old Steven Yelton of Texas, is listed in critical condition with severe head trauma. He was initially airlifted to Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center in Houma, awaiting transfer to Oschner Medical Center.
PSI, Inc. is a helicopter services company that provides transportation to offshore oil and gas, onshore mining and medical and technical services industries. They are independently owned.
Terrebonne Sheriff Vernon Burgeois has released the identify of seven of the victims. They are Allen Boudreaux Jr, 23, of Folsom, Jorey A. Rivero Sr., 35, of Westwego, pilot Thomas Ballenger, 63, of Alabama, co-pilot Vyarl Wayne Martin, 46, of Texas, Dynamic Industries employee Randy Tarpley, 53, of Jonesville, La., and MMR employee Charles Wilbur Nelson, 24, of Pensacola, Fla. Two additional employees from Dynamic have not been been named pending notification of their family members.
The cause of the crash has not been determined and is under investigation.
Several photos below.