What happened
On 16 August 2010, a Bell 206L helicopter, registration C-GVYM, departed Clyde River, Nunavut, on a visual flight rules (VFR) ferry flight toward Pond Inlet. The aircraft, operated by Universal Helicopters Newfoundland Limited, was traveling along the eastern coast of Baffin Island. During the flight, the aircraft's flight following device transmitted its last known position at 1639 EDT. When the aircraft failed to provide subsequent position updates, the operator alerted search and rescue authorities.
On 17 August 2010, wreckage was discovered floating on the sea surface approximately 40 nautical miles northwest of Clyde River. The impact forces had destroyed the helicopter, though no fire was present. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not located. Despite extensive search efforts involving Canadian Forces aircraft and Coast Guard vessels, the pilot remains missing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the weather conditions, and the flight's progression. The helicopter had recently undergone its required 100-hour inspection. Analysis of the wreckage indicated that the rotor drive train was rotating at the time of impact, and the damage to the landing gear suggested a high-speed collision with the water. The investigation also noted that the emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was unable to signal because its antenna had been torn off during the crash.
Weather observations at the time of the flight showed low ceilings and reduced visibility along the coast. While the pilot was qualified for the flight and operating within legal duty limits, the pilot was not instrument rated. The investigation considered several scenarios, including the possibility that deteriorating weather or a loss of spatial orientation while flying under low clouds led to an inadvertent descent into the sea.
Findings
- The aircraft was flying in an area with low cloud ceilings and mist, which may have compromised the pilot's spatial orientation.
- The pilot's lack of an instrument rating made maintaining control difficult during periods of deteriorating weather and reduced visual cues.
- The loss of the ELT antenna prevented the transmission of an emergency signal to initiate search and rescue.
- The presence of maintenance documentation on board the aircraft hindered the investigation's ability to review certain records.