The two pilots and 10 passengers were rescued September 7 when a 1979 S-76 operated by Houston Helicopters crashed into the water, caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Mexico, about 23 miles south of Sabine, Texas. The twin-turbine helicopter was en route to Sabine Pass, Texas, when it went down. Reported weather at the time of the accident was wind 080 at 15 knots, visibility 10 miles.