Gulf Helicopter Safety by the Numbers
On March 23, 2004, an Era Aviation Sikorsky S-76A transporting eight oil workers crashed in the Gulf of Mexico at night, killing the passengers along with

On March 23, 2004, an Era Aviation Sikorsky S-76A transporting eight oil workers crashed in the Gulf of Mexico at night, killing the passengers along with the two pilots.

An NTSB investigation determined the probable cause for the crash was the pilots’ failure to identify the helicopter’s descent, which resulted in a controlled flight into the water. In reaction to this accident, the NTSB last March issued a call for all turbine-powered helicopters capable of carrying at least six passengers to be equipped with terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS).