1987 — Dec 21, Petroleum Helicopters Inc. oil rig landing crash, Gulf of Mexico, off LA– 15

— 15  Planecrashinfo.com. “1987. Accident Details. Petroleum Helicopters Inc…Eugene Island”

— 15  United Press International. “A helicopter crash on a Gulf of Mexico oil…” 12-22-1987.

 

Narrative Information

 

Dec 21, AP: “Lafayette, La., Dec 21 — A helicopter carrying 13 offshore oil workers to begin a two-week shift in the Gulf of Mexico crashed and burned on the deck of an oil rig today, killing 12 of the workers and both pilots, the Coast Guard said.

 

“The lone survivor, identified as Anthony Fann, 23 years old, of Destrehan, La., was flown by Coast Guard helicopter 100 miles to the burn unit of West Jefferson Medical Center in suburban New Orleans. He was in critical condition with third-degree burns over 60 percent of his body, said Jim Pittman, a hospital spokesman….” (AP. “14 Killed as a Helicopter Crashes onto Oil Rig Off Louisiana Coast,” New York Times, 12-22-1987.)

 

Dec 22, AP: “Lafayette, La. (AP) – A helicopter carrying 13 offshore oil workers to begin a Christmas week shift in the Gulf of Mexico crashed and burned on the deck of an oil rig Monday, killing 12 of the workers and both pilots, the Coast Guard said.  The lone survivor was flown by Coast Guard helicopter 100 miles to the burn unit of West Jefferson Medical Center in suburban New Orleans. He was reported in critical condition.

 

“Dabney Forestall, a rig worker who witnessed the accident said the helicopter appeared to be approaching the pad normally until “he had some kind of problems and he skidded off the heliport and hit the leg (of the platform).  “It looked like the tail section possibly hit the leg, and he fell off the heliport and fell on the deck. They had a major explosion,” said Forestall.

 

“Chuck Kalnbach, a spokesman for the Coast Guard, said the rig’s operators confirmed 14 fatalities and said the bodies would be flown to Abbeville, where a morgue was set up.

 

“Edward Villarreal, division manager of Forest Oil Corp. which operated the rig, said the 13 oil workers were employed by Penrod Drilling. They were flying to the rig to begin a two-week Christmas shift, he said.  The fire from the crash was quickly controlled before it spread to the rig, he said.

 

“The rig, identified as Penrod 83, is located about 60 miles south of Morgan City in the area of the Gulf known as Eugene Island, block 190.

 

“The survivor was identified as…an oil worker from Destrehan, La.  A hospital spokeswoman said he suffered third-degree burns over 95 percent of his body.  A Penrod spokesman said all of the dead Penrod employees were from Louisiana and Mississippi.” (Santa Fe New Mexican. “Helicopter Crash Kills 12 in Gulf,” Dec 22, 1987, p. 2.)

 

Dec 22, UPI: “Abbeville, La. — A helicopter crash on a Gulf of Mexico oil rig claimed its 15th victim today, an oil patch roughneck who suffered burns over 95 percent of his body in the explosion and fire. Anthony Fann, 23, of Destrehan, La., died at 10:38 a.m. at West Jefferson Hospital near New Orleans, a hospital spokesman said. Fann, his clothing burned completely away in the crash, had managed to crawl away from the wreckage moments before the craft exploded, said Dabney Forstall, a rig worker who witnessed the crash.

 

“The two helicopter pilots and 12 co-workers were killed in the crash shortly before noon Monday on the Penrod No. 83 rig, about 80 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. The two helicopter pilots and 12 co-workers were killed in the crash shortly before noon Monday on the Penrod No. 83 rig, about 80 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico….

 

“Investigators from the National Transportation and Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were expected to examine the wreckage today.

 

“`We don’t know an awful lot about what might have caused the crash,’ said Ralph White, general counsel in Dallas for the Penrod Drilling Co., the rig’s owner.”

 

“`There was wind, rain and fog,’ said Forstall, one of a dozen workers who were to be replaced by the arriving roughnecks. ‘It looked like he (the helicopter pilot) tried to touch down on the heliport and either the wind or he had some kind of problem and he skidded off…and hit the (supporting) leg.’

 

“Witnesses said the Aerospatial SA330 Puma twin-engine helicopter flipped, fell 25 feet off the helipad to the main deck below, exploded and burst into flames on the main deck, which sits about 100 feet above the water….

 

“The passengers were all from Louisiana and Mississippi.”

 

Planecrashinfo.com: 13 passengers and 2 crewmembers. Notes “The helicopter crashed while attempting to land on an oil rig. Improper planned approach. Clearance not maintained.”

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “14 Killed as a Helicopter Crashes onto Oil Rig Off Louisiana Coast,” New York Times, 12-22-1987. Accessed 10-13-2016 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1987/12/22/us/14-killed-as-a-helicopter-crashes-onto-oil-rig-off-louisiana-coast.html

 

Planecrashinfo.com. “1987. Accident Details. Petroleum Helicopters Inc…Eugene Island.”  Accessed 10-13-2016 at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1987/1987-71.htm

 

Santa Fe New Mexican. “Helicopter Crash Kills 12 in Gulf.” 12-22-1987, p. 2. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=108305025

 

United Press International. “A helicopter crash on a Gulf of Mexico oil…” 12-22-1987. Accessed 10-13-2016 at: http://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/12/22/A-helicopter-crash-on-a-Gulf-of-Mexico-oil/7400567147600/