1977 — Dec 8, PHI helicopter hits oil rig crane, Gulf of Mex., near Marsh Island, LA — 17

–17 Casetext.com. “In re Helicopter Crash near Marsh Island, Louisiana, on December 8 1977.”
–17 Planecrashinfo.com. “1977. Accident Details. Petroleum Helicopter, Intracoastal City, LA.
–17 Ruston Daily Leader, LA. “17 Die In Helicopter Crash,” Dec 9, 1977, p. 4.
–17 Assoc. Press. “A look at deadly oil Industry accidents.” Victoria Advocate, TX. 4-21-2010.

Narrative Information

Casetext.com: “This litigation consists of eleven actions pending in three districts: nine in the Western District of Louisiana and one each in the Eastern District of Louisiana and the Eastern District of Texas.

“The actions arose from a helicopter crash on an oil production platform near Marsh Island, Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico on December 8, 1977. Seventeen persons were killed and two persons were injured in the accident. Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (PHI), the owner of the helicopter that crashed, is named as a defendant in all eleven actions. Mission Viking, Inc. (Mission), the operator of the platform on which the crash occurred, is a defendant in all actions except the Texas action. Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation (Aerospatiale), the manufacturer of the helicopter, is a defendant in seven of the Western District of Louisiana actions. American Home Assurance Company (American), PHI’s and Mission’s insurance company, is a defendant in five of the Western District of Louisiana actions. PHI is accused of negligence in the piloting of the helicopter; Mission is accused of negligence in positioning a crane in close proximity to the landing area on the oil production platform; and Aerospatiale is accused of negligence in the design, manufacture and testing of the helicopter….” (Casetext.com. “In re Helicopter Crash Near Marsh Island, Louisiana, on December 8 1977.” 12-1-1978.)

Planecrashinfo.com: “Collided with cable crane. Crane operator failed to park crane boom in stowed position.” Two survivors.

Newspaper

Dec 9, United Press International: “Lafayette, La. (UPI) — Officials say a helicopter crash in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 17 offshore oil workers may have been caused by a collision between the aircraft and a crane on an oil rig. All but two of the 19 men aboard the twin-engine helicopter were killed in the accident Thursday. None of the bodies have been recovered….

“Pennzoil Co. operates the platform, known as Platform A, which holds both oil and gas wells in 200 feet of water about 90 miles southwest of Morgan City, La….15 of those killed were Pennzoil employees….

“The accident occurred shortly after noon, and PHI [Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.] immediately dispatched several helicopters to the scene to begin rescue operations. The Coast Guard, which was notified about two hours later, sent a carrier, several helicopters and an airplane from Mobile, Ala.

“Winds were ranging from 20 to 30 knots and seas were reported at eight to 10 feet at the time of the accident….” (Ruston Daily Leader, LA. “17 Die In Helicopter Crash,” Dec 9, 1977, p. 4.)

Sources

Associated Press. “A look at deadly oil Industry accidents.” Victoria Advocate, TX. 4-21-2010. Accessed 10-2-2021 at: https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/state/a-look-at-deadly-oil-industry-accidents/article_738b9368-cbdf-55e3-9c41-056408262ed7.html

Casetext.com. “In re Helicopter Crash Near Marsh Island, Louisiana, on December 8 1977.” 12-1-1978. Accessed 10-2-2021 at: https://casetext.com/case/in-re-helicopter-crash-near-marsh-island-louisiana-on-december

Planecrashinfo.com. “1977. Accident Details. Petroleum Helicopter, Intracoastal City, LA…Dec 8, 1977.” Accessed 10-2-2021 at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1977/1977-55.htm

Ruston Daily Leader, LA. “17 Die In Helicopter Crash.” 12-9-1977, p. 4. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=139550321