UPDATE NOV. 13: The National Transportation Safety Board has released the preliminary report for the helicopter crash that killed two people near Red Rock Canyon on Oct. 23.
According to the report, the aircraft was undergoing maintenance on the day it was rented out by its operating company, Airworks, to pilot Scott Socquet and his passenger, Howard Jameson.
The report says Socquet called Airworks to inquire about renting it for the afternoon and when the company told him about the maintenance he said he would stop by the office anyway to check if it was done and put money on his account.
When they arrived at Airworks, an office personnel told Socquet that an earlier flight was canceled because that pilot had found sediment in the fuel tanks, the report says.
Socquet said he was happy to wait, and about 20 minutes later the certified flight instructor who canceled the earlier flight cleared the helicopter to fly, the report shows.
The report says Socquet and Jameson planned to take an hour flight since they needed to return the helicopter back to the Airworks for a tour scheduled at 7 p.m. that night.
Shortly before 4 p.m., reports of the crash began to surface. Both men were transported to the hospital in critical condition before succumbing to their injuries.
At this time it is still unknown what exactly caused the crash.
The report says that investigators made multiple attempts to contact the certified flight instructor who said maintenance was complete on the helicopter before it was rented out, but they were unable to do so.
The investigation remains ongoing.
UPDATE OCT. 28: Officials said the second occupant of the helicopter has died from last week's crash. The Clark County Coroner's office identified him as 27-year-old Howard Jameson from Connecticut.
UPDATE OCT. 24: The Clark County Coroner’s office identified the helicopter pilot who died Wednesday near Red Rock Canyon as 53-year-old Scott Socquet from Milford, Connecticut.
ORIGINAL STORY
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- A pilot is dead and another person is in critical condition after a helicopter crash near Red Rock Canyon in the vicinity of Calico Basin, according to authorities.
The SR159 (West Charleston Boulevard) is closed between Sky Vista Drive and Moenkopi Road and is expected to remain closed until Thursday at noon.
To access the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop while the road is closed, drivers can take SR160 (Blue Diamond Road).
#NOW: “This is something we don’t see everyday” @NHPSouthernComm briefing the media on today’s helicopter crash. NHP says witnesses rushed to help those onboard and called 911.
— Austin Carter (@AustinKTNV) October 24, 2019
Concern now is the fuel that’s still on the helicopter, prompting SR159 to be closed @KTNV pic.twitter.com/MLRP4zuEOq
A spokesperson from McCarran International Airport says the helicopter that crashed is an R44.
Calls of the crash starting coming in at 3:55 p.m. near Blue Diamond Road.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Search & Rescue Unit is assisting Clark County Fire Department.
This is a breaking story, check back for updates.
Read more Las Vegas breaking news for Oct. 23, 2019
#BREAKING: Helicopter crash at #RedRockCanyon. @ToddQuinones & @TriciaKean will have more details at 5 & 6 p.m. @AustinKTNV is on his way to the scene now. https://t.co/nViFLtM5cN pic.twitter.com/sJZJIOtj2B
— KTNV Action News (@KTNV) October 23, 2019
