Bell 206B, Nokomis, Fla., Sept. 11, 2007– The helicopter was destroyed when it crashed into the ocean offshore of Nokomis around 10 a.m., while serving as an aerial photography platform. The pilot received serious injuries and the two passengers were killed in the accident. The JetRanger was engaged in taking pictures of high-performance boats, and on the last shoot of the day the pilot reported he was having difficulty communicating and coordinating speed and maneuvers with the powerboat.
According to the pilot, at 9:50 he looked at his watch and noted that he had approximately 21 gallons of fuel left and told the photographer that they needed to finish the shoot quickly so he could land and refuel. The pilot told investigators that he remembers beginning another photo run and communicating further with the photographer; his next memory was of surfacing in the water.
More In Accidents
