History of the Flight
On 13 August 2010, Héli-Excel Inc. received a charter request from Hydro-Québec for an AS350 B2 helicopter to transport 4 passengers and 300 pounds of baggage from Sept-Îles to Poste Montagnais on 17 August 2010. Because an AS350-B2 was not available, Hydro-Québec agreed to use an AS350-BA, which had a lower maximum take-off weight. It was verbally agreed that some baggage would be sent by plane.
At 1111 Eastern Daylight Time on 17 August 2010, the Eurocopter AS350-BA (registration C-GIYR, serial number 2299) departed Sept-Îles under visual flight rules. Fifty minutes later, the company's flight-following system indicated the helicopter was 22 nm north of Sept-Îles and stationary. A search found the wreckage on a plateau; the aircraft was destroyed on impact with no fire. The pilot and three passengers suffered fatal injuries. No distress signal was received from the emergency locator transmitter.
Operational Circumstances
Hydro-Québec's initial request for 4 passengers and 300 pounds of baggage could not be fulfilled within the AS350-B2's maximum take-off weight (4,960 pounds) with a normal fuel load. Using the AS350-BA (maximum take-off weight 4,630 pounds), even with a 60% fuel tank, 4 passengers alone would exceed the limit; the 300 pounds of baggage could not be carried. The charter agreement was not documented.
On the morning of the flight, passengers arrived with 761 pounds of baggage instead of the expected 300 pounds. The pilot reduced the planned fuel load from 75% to 60% (about 600 pounds) because of the excess weight. The helicopter took off 476 pounds over its maximum allowable take-off weight. The pilot faced pressure from passengers to keep their tools and from the competitive environment involving Hydro-Québec.
The Flight
The pilot initially followed power lines northeast at low speed due to reduced visibility. After veering toward the Moisie River, speed increased to normal cruising speed. At the junction of the Nipissis River, the pilot continued over the Moisie River instead of following railway tracks north—the reason for this decision is unknown. Eight minutes later, the pilot turned right into a valley toward Poste Montagnais but performed a half-turn at the end of the valley, returning to the Moisie River, likely due to clouds covering the terrain. While flying south over the Moisie River, the pilot turned left toward the mountains at 1154, having been in flight 43 minutes with about 385 pounds of fuel remaining.
VFR Flight into IMC
At the time of impact, engine torque was at the maximum allowable limit, indicating full collective application. There was no evidence of structural failure, flight control malfunction, or loss of power. The wreckage trail was rectilinear, ruling out a sharp yaw from hydraulic failure. The helicopter struck the top of a plateau at a sharp angle.
Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot did not take the fork in the Nipissis River and eventually turned back because of clouds covering the terrain, extending the flight and reducing fuel reserves.