Description
by ALEXX ALTMAN-DEVILBISS | The National News Desk
Tue, October 22nd 2024 at 9:22 AMTransmission tower lights failed days before Houston, Texas helicopter crash, according to FAA notice last week. (CNN Newssource)
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FAAHelicopterCrashHoustonTowerUnserviceableExplosionInvestigationHOUSTON (TNND) — The lights on a Houston radio tower were reportedly "unserviceable" a few days before a helicopter crashed into it killing four people in a fiery explosion.
According to investigators, the flight was operating as an air tour flying at an altitude of 600 feet when it slammed into the 1,000-foot-high tower over the weekend.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a notice to pilots Thursday stating the tower's lights were "unserviceable" until the end of the month.
However, surveillance video of the crash shows at least one light flashing at the top of the tower with the rest of the tower in total darkness before the helicopter explodes on collision.
Guidance from the FAA says towers higher than 200 feet"should normally be marked and/or lighted" and an outage "should be corrected as soon as possible."
The privately ownedRobinson R44 II helicopter crashed Sunday night causing a large explosion nearEngelke Street and North Ennis Street.
According to Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz, the helicopter either struck a cable or the tower and no one on the ground was injured.
Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz added no residents were impacted but the fire was estimated to have spanned two to three blocks before it was extinguished.
The identities of the victims and their ages have not been released.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is in charge of the investigation and told CNN officials they will be at the site of the crash to examine and recover the aircraft.
Lt. Jonathan French said Monday that the Houston Police Department's vehicular crimes division is making a three-dimensional scan over a 4-acre area to share with the NTSB and FAA.
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