AIR CRASH INVESTIGATIONS WHY DID IT HAPPEN? The Crash of Sikorsky S-76A Helicopter G-BJVX

On March 23 2004 about 1918:34 central standard time an Era Aviation Sikorsky S-76A helicopter N579EH crashed into the Gulf of Mexico about 70 nautical miles south-southeast of Scholes International Airport (GLS) Galveston Texas. The helicopter was en route to the drilling ship Discoverer Spirit. The captain copilot and eight passengers aboard the helicopter were killed and the helicopter was destroyed by impact forces. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on a visual flight rules flight plan. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the flight crew's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent for undetermined reasons which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.