Preliminary Report: Jetranger crashes in trees

Bell 206B JetRanger, Patterson, La., March 14, 2006–As the Rotorcraft Leasing JetRanger left Patterson for an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, the helicopter seemed to lose power and “dropped” a couple of times. A passenger reported that the pilot “didn’t have the power to keep it up.” Although the pilot recovered a couple of times, he was attempting an emergency landing when it crashed in trees only five miles from Patterson. The pilot and a passenger were killed, and the other two passengers sustained minor injuries. The helicopter burned.