What happened
On a flight from North Bay to Kapuskasing, Ontario, a Bell 206B helicopter, registered C-GCHB, collided with a 79-foot tower near Elk Lake. The aircraft, operated by Essential Helicopters, was being repositioned for upcoming sightseeing services. During the flight, the pilot and a passenger encountered deteriorating weather. Approximately 72 minutes after departing North Bay, the helicopter struck the tower at a high velocity and then hit the ground roughly 430 feet further on. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and both occupants were fatally injured. There was no fire following the crash, though the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter suffered reduced range due to antenna damage.
The investigation
The investigation established that prior to departure, the pilot contacted the London Flight Information Center (FIC) for weather updates. While the pilot and passenger reviewed weather via the NAV CANADA website and briefed company personnel, they only obtained weather reports for North Bay, Timmens, and Kapuskasing, all of which indicated VFR conditions. Crucially, the pilot did not request a formal pilot weather briefing or check reports from stations like Sudbury or Earlton, which were experiencing worse weather. Furthermore, the flight service specialist failed to provide the required weather briefing as mandated by the company's Manual of Operations.
Data recovered from an on-board GPS showed the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 2300 feet above sea level before descending to between 1550 and 1950 feet for the remainder of the flight. The investigation found that the tower was not depicted on the VNC charts or the GPS database, which had not been updated. The tower was grey, unlit, and unmarked, making it likely to blend into the overcast skies. Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot had deviated from the planned route and reduced speed earlier in the flight due to terrain and weather, but had returned to cruise speed shortly before the impact, reducing the time available to react to the obstacle.
Findings
- The pilot failed to conduct a sufficient weather review for the entire intended route, leaving him unaware of deteriorating conditions.
- The flight service specialist did not offer a mandatory weather briefing.
- The pilot flew at a low altitude due to poor weather, which likely obscured the tower and limited reaction time.
- The tower was not identified on the VNC or GPS, and the GPS database was out of date.
- Flying below the Maximum Elevation Figure (MEF) increases the risk of encountering unmapped obstacles.