What happened
On 17 August 2010, an Eurocopter AS3ually 350-BA, registration C-GIYR, departed from Sept-Îles, Quebec, for a charter flight to Poste Montagnais. The flight was intended to transport four passengers and various tools for Hydro-Québec. Approximately 50 minutes into the flight, the company's flight-following system indicated the aircraft had stopped moving 22 nm north of its departure point. A subsequent search located the wreckage on a plateau. The impact destroyed the aircraft, and the pilot and three passengers were fatally injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical failure, flight control malfunction, or loss of engine power. Analysis of the engine torque showed it was at the maximum allowable limit at the moment of impact, suggesting the pilot had applied full collective power.
The investigation established that the aircraft was overloaded. While the initial charter request specified 300 pounds of baggage, the passengers arrived with 761 pounds. To accommodate this weight, the pilot reduced the fuel load to 60%, which decreased the aircraft's flight endurance. The investigation also noted that the pilot, who did not meet specific experience criteria for the contract, faced significant pressure from both the client and the passengers to complete the mission despite the weight and weather challenges.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to take a shortcut through the mountains to reach the destination due to reduced fuel endurance.
- The flight transitioned from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) as the pilot lost visual contact with the ground.
- The aircraft was flying in weather conditions below the legal minimums, increasing the risk of spatial disorientation.
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft while flying in marginal weather above the plateau.
- The emergency locator transmitter failed to alert rescuers because the antenna was severed during the crash.
Safety action
Following the accident, Héli-Excel Inc. implemented several safety improvements, including:
- Enhanced training for new pilots, specifically regarding instrument flight and decision-making.
- The introduction of digital flight instruments and portable scales for all aircraft.
- New management structures to increase pilot supervision and independent safety oversight.
Hydro-Québec also updated its contractual requirements to ensure providers adhere to weight limits, weather minima, and proper flight path procedures.