The State - News from Oct. 21, 1986
Heavy nylon netting used to keep helicopters from sliding when they take off from an offshore oil barge may have caused a crash off the Santa Barbara County coast that killed two men last week, officials say. “Apparently, a skid or other appurtenance of the helicopter caught on the netting” during takeoff, said Bud Danenberger, district supervisor for the federal Minerals Management Service. The barge is operated by McDermott Marine Construction Co. The helicopter was operated by Petroleum Helicopters Inc. Danenberger said the Coast Guard authorized McDermott officials to remove the netting from the barge helipad so that flights could resume.
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