Copter Clips Tower Guy Wire, Crashes in Louisiana

October 15, 2012

A low-flying helicopter crashed in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, after clipping a guy wire on an FM broadcast tower, killing the pilot, according the Kaplan Herald.

Neighbors feared the crash, which occurred in 10:44 a.m. in a rural area in the southern part of the state, might bring down the 1,000-foot tower, which is owned by KYBG Big 102.1 FM.

The tower is intact and the station remains on the air, according to the Station Manager Hans Nelson.

“Our engineer was there the next day and did a replacement guywire,” Nelson told AGL Bulletin. “There is still some repair work that will need to be done to the tower, but it is not in any danger of falling.”

The pilot, who was from Texas, was alone in the four-seat Bell 206 helicopter. His name has not been released. It is not known why he was in the area, since the tower is not on any established flight path. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

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