Lighting on a Houston radio tower reportedly failed just days before it was hit by a helicopter on Sunday, killing four people in a fiery explosion that toppled the tower and left debris scattered through the neighborhood.
Operating as an air tour flight, the helicopter was flying at an altitude of 600 feet when it slammed into the 1,000-foot-high tower just before 8 p.m. Sunday, according to open-source data and investigating officials.
The tower’s lights were “unserviceable” until the end of the month, according to a Federal Aviation Administration notice to pilots published last Thursday.
Towers higher than 200 feet above ground level “should normally be marked and/or lighted,” and any tower lighting outage “should be corrected as soon as possible,” according to FAA guidance published in 2020.
Towers and guy wires pose a unique hazard to helicopters, which typically fly at low altitudes and can be especially difficult for pilots to spot at night. Video of the crash shows at least one flashing light at the very top of the tower but the rest of the tower does not appear to be illuminated.
The crash ignited a large explosion near Engelke Street and North Ennis Street that could be heard at a fire station nearly half a mile from the site, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said during a late-night news conference.
The crash killed all four people, including a child, on board the privately owned Robinson R44 helicopter, according to Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz and federal officials. The pilot and three passengers were killed, according to the FAA.
Additional investigators from NTSB will arrive at the scene Monday evening, where they will continue to work for at least another day, said Brian Rutt, an air safety investigator with NTSB.
The aircraft departed Ellington Airport, which is about 17 miles south of the crash site. Rutt said the helicopter did not have a flight data recorder, which is not required.
Witness video shows fire personnel urging onlookers to clear the area where a fire was burning and warning them of a nearby gas tank.
“This is a tragic event tonight. It’s a tragic loss of life,” Diaz said.
Officials advised residents who see human remains around the crash site to leave the area alone and report it to authorities.
The mayor said the city is “fortunate” the explosion was not more severe because there is a gas tank in the area.
Lawrence Gurule was watching a football game on Sunday night when he heard a noise that “sounded like a bomb.”
“I ran outside and looked up and I could see smoke. The tower was gone,” he said.
“It will be a large investigation because of the expanse of the accident,” Diaz said. If residents find helicopter parts in the area, they should avoid touching them and notify fire or police officials, he added.