Helicopter crash in Bahamas
 

A helicopter with seven people crashed shortly after taking off from Big Grand Cay to Ft. Lauderdale at 2 am (today or yesterday?). All seven were killed; the aircraft was found in 16 feet of water about two miles from the departure point. On board was Chris Cline, a billionaire coal magnate, his daughter, a recent LSU graduate, and two sorority sisters of hers. In addition there was a mechanic on board. Type of helicopter not known at this time. Above preliminary information subject to change.

AW139
Night VFR departure over water...shivers

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-cline/coal-baron-cline-among-seven-dead-in-bahamas-helicopter-crash-media-idUSKCN1U007S

VFR at night is prohibited in the Bahamas. In order to take off at night you have to have an IFR clearance and release from Nassau.
Very sad

Let me rephrase: IFR flight rules but VMC (VFR) conditions.
Maybe black hole effect.

The FAA is saying it was an AugustaWestland 139, a large twin turbine helicopter used by many nations's military and coast guard units. It can seat two crew and up to 15 passengers in some configurations. Weighs about 15,000 pounds and costs about $14 million dollars. Still, no point in departing overwater at 2 am. With a mechanic on board you question if he had been sent over earlier to fix something and a maintenance delay was the reason for the late departure.

Lots of corporate outfits fly a mechanic on every flight to be able to keep things going no matter where they are. It’s not unusual for a flight like this to have a mechanic. Kind of like a crew chief in military.

The cockpit/cabin looks mostly intact and undamaged in shallow water, anyone make it out?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...es-family.html

I hear ya. I used to fly a King Air all over the Bahamas and had to fly at night a few times out of some of the northern out islands. A night time takeoff can be a challenge if you are not ready for the blackout. It is like taking off in zero zero.

Pretty obvious frontal impact damage. If they survived that they were probably unconscious or too injured to egress. :(

RIP