Investigators are continuing to probe the deadly helicopter crash that occurred Sunday evening in Houston, which claimed the lives of four people and caused a large fire visible from nearby homes.
The privately owned Robinson R44 helicopter collided with a radio tower shortly after taking off from Ellington Airport, located about 17 miles from the crash site.
Officials are exploring the possibility that faulty lighting on the tower contributed to the crash, as the impact caused the structure to collapse.
Although the names and ages of the victims, including the pilot and three passengers, have yet to be released, authorities confirmed that one of the passengers was a child. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences confirmed that the victims died from blunt force trauma and burn injuries, classifying the crash as an accident.
Brian Rutt, an air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), described the crash scene as “complex” and indicated that the investigation is still in its early phases. According to reports, the helicopter was flying at about 600 feet when it struck the 1,000-foot tower just before 8 p.m.
Fortunately, no one on the ground was injured, and nearby homes were not damaged. However, some vehicles were affected, and the crash sparked a fire that burned approximately 100 to 200 yards of surrounding grass.
The crash occurred near Engelke Street and North Ennis Street, just east of downtown Houston, resulting in a massive explosion, according to Houston Mayor John Whitmire. He noted that firefighters from a nearby station who heard the explosion responded quickly. Both the helicopter and the radio tower were destroyed, and some local residents temporarily lost power.
Local resident Lawrence Gurule, who was watching a football game at the time, described hearing a loud sound he likened to a bomb. “I ran outside and saw smoke, and the tower was gone,” he said.
Investigators are looking into reports that the radio tower’s lighting may have been malfunctioning in the days leading up to the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a notice just a few days earlier stating that the tower’s lights were “unserviceable” until the end of the month.
According to FAA guidelines, towers over 200 feet in height should be marked or illuminated to ensure visibility. Any lighting issues must be addressed promptly, as outlined in a 2020 FAA publication. Towers, along with their supporting guy wires, pose significant hazards to helicopters, which typically operate at lower altitudes and may have difficulty spotting unlit structures at night.
Video footage of the crash shows that while one light at the top of the tower was flashing, the rest of the structure was not illuminated.
While the exact cause of the crash remains unclear, the NTSB has dispatched additional investigators to the site to further examine the wreckage. The helicopter, registered to Porter Equipment Holdings LLC in Magnolia, Texas, was reportedly on a sightseeing tour at the time of the accident, according to the FAA.
Authorities have been scouring the crash site for debris, with Houston Police’s vehicular crimes division using a 3D scanning tool to map the 4-acre area. Lt. Jonathan French urged residents who encounter debris to leave it in place and notify authorities.
Leave a Reply