A tragic helicopter crash in Houston, TX, has resulted in four deaths after the helicopter apparently collided with a radio tower. The crash occurred in the evening of Sunday, October 20, about 17 miles away from where it took off at Ellington Airport. The cause of the investigation is currently under investigation by federal, state, and local authorities.

The Events of the Crash

On Sunday, October 20, the helicopter departed from Houston-Ellington Field (EFD), located in Houston, just before 8:00 PM. As they flew, they collided with a radio tower belonging to radio station KQUE FM, destroying both the helicopter and the tower. All four passengers, including one child, were killed in the crash and subsequent ground fire, although no one else was injured on the ground. 

Information About the Helicopter

The helicopter was a Robinson R44 Raven II (registration number N881KE), registered to Porter Equipment Holdings LLC, a company that provides sightseeing tours with its helicopters. The R44 Raven II first began flying in 1990, and this specific aircraft was originally manufactured in 2002. It was carrying four occupants, including the pilot and three passengers, at least one of which was a child. 

Potential Reasons for the Crash

At this time, no specific cause for the crash has been positively identified by authorities.  The Thursday prior to the crash the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) had issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen / Notice to Air Mission) indicating that the radio tower’s lights were considered “unserviceable.” Under federal law, all towers over 200 ft should be clearly marked or lit to prevent aircraft from crashing into them. This NOTAM indicates that the tower’s lighting was partly or completely nonfunctional, which may have prevented the pilot of the aircraft from seeing the tower in the night sky.

What Happens Now

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be investigating the crash, including other potential contributing factors that may have led to the accident. This may include potential mechanical failures in the helicopter itself, as well as potential errors that may have been made by the pilot prior to the crash. In the meantime, authorities have requested people respect the scene of the accident and avoid making contact with debris, which is considered evidence in the investigation.