What happened
On a morning in 2013, a Bell 206B helicopter, registered as C-FZWB, was performing wildlife survey operations approximately 75 nautical miles north of Fort McMurray, Alberta. While the pilot was attempting to identify a suitable landing site, the aircraft experienced an uncommanded rotation to the right. This maneuver led to the helicopter descending into a group of trees at 1058 Mountain Daylight Time. The impact triggered the aircraft's 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter, though no fire occurred following the crash.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the uncontrolled rotation and subsequent descent. Investigators examined the flight path and the mechanical state of the aircraft at the time of the incident.
Findings
- The crash resulted in two fatalities (the pilot and the rear right passenger) and one serious injury (the front left passenger).
- The primary factor in the accident was loss of tail rotor effectiveness.