What happened
On 4 March 2019, a privately operated Robinson R66 helicopter began a flight from Nashville International Airport, destined for Fauquier, Ontario. During the journey, the aircraft made several intermediate stops at various airports, with its final scheduled stop being Sudbury, Ontario. Following this stop, the crew departed Sudbury to continue the trip to Fauquier under night visual flight rules (VFR).
Two days after the flight was expected to arrive, the aircraft was reported overdue. This triggered an extensive search and rescue operation involving the Canadian Coast Guard, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. On 11 March 2019, the wreckage was discovered approximately 18 nautical miles west-northwest of Timmins, Ontario. The two fatalities occurred as a result of the impact.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the event. The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the flight path and the eventual discovery of the aircraft near Timmins.