Accident Overview
On August 16, 2010, a Bell 206L helicopter (registration C-GVYM, serial number 45143) operated by Universal Helicopters Newfoundland Limited departed Clyde River, Nunavut, at 1609 Eastern Daylight Time on a visual flight rules flight to Pond Inlet, Nunavut. The aircraft was equipped with a flight following device and was reported overdue at 1819. A search was initiated in the area of the last known position, and wreckage was recovered from the surface of the sea on August 17, 2010, approximately 40 nautical miles northwest of Clyde River. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces; there was no fire. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not found. The accident occurred during daylight hours. No emergency locator transmitter signal was detected by the Search and Rescue system.
Flight History
The helicopter was being ferried from Broughton Island to Resolute Bay, Nunavut. The pilot selected a routing along the eastern coast of Baffin Island requiring fuel stops in Clyde River, Pond Inlet, and Cape York. A VFR flight plan was filed with an estimated time en route of 11 hours. The pilot started his duty day at approximately 0700. The filed departure time was 1000. The terrain along the eastern coast rises dramatically from the sea with many steep fjords and few locations for precautionary landing. Low cloud conditions would necessitate routing along the coastline. The pilot departed Broughton Island at 1123 and arrived in Clyde River at 1516 following two en route landings due to weather. He departed for Pond Inlet at 1609. The last known position emitted from the flight following device was at 1639. The entire routing was in uncontrolled airspace.
Weather Conditions
Reduced visibility and low ceilings were forecast along the eastern coast of Baffin Island. The pilot received weather briefings before departure. The 1600 METAR for Clyde River reported wind 050°T at 4 knots, visibility 3½ statute miles, overcast ceiling at 200 feet above ground level, and temperature/dewpoint 7°C/7°C. Pond Inlet at 1600 reported wind 250°T at 2 knots, visibility 15 statute miles with fog in the vicinity, and a broken ceiling at 6800 feet. A low pressure system over southern Hudson Bay and a trough over central Baffin Island resulted in light easterly flow. Satellite imagery indicated low clouds moving onshore. No pilot reports were transmitted in the timeframe surrounding the crash.
Search and Rescue
When the helicopter failed to transmit a position report for more than 30 minutes (by 1711), the operator contacted the flight following device manufacturer and then the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax at 1819, requesting search and rescue assistance. No ELT signal was detected. A Canadian Forces C-130 Hercules was tasked at 1904 and arrived over the last known position at 0152 on August 17, but weather prevented VFR operations. A Cormorant helicopter was also tasked. At 1740 on August 17, wreckage was found floating near the south shore of a fjord near the last known position. Three icebergs in the fjord were searched but showed no impact marks. The search continued through August 18; no further wreckage or the pilot was found. The search was stood down on August 19 and handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as a missing person case. Wreckage was recovered by a Canadian Coast Guard ship and transported to Clyde River.
Pilot and Operator
The pilot was certified and qualified for the flight. He had approximately 5000 hours total flight time, of which 3665 were on type. This was his third season working with the company in the Arctic. The pilot was not instrument rated. At the time of the occurrence, he had been on duty 9.5 hours, within flight and duty time requirements. The operator, Universal Helicopters Newfoundland Limited, is based in Newfoundland and Labrador and conducts only day, VFR operations. The company operates a pilot self-dispatch system with automated flight following devices providing position information at 15-minute intervals.