What happened
On the morning of 25 July 2021, a Robinson R44 helicopter, registered as C-FVPA, was performing agricultural spraying operations near Brantford, Ontario. Operated by Apex Helicopters Inc., the aircraft departed from a field on the outskirts of the city under visual flight rules.
The pilot, who was the only person on board, was conducting a reconnaissance flight to survey the fields intended for spraying. Shortly after beginning this survey, the aircraft struck wires located at the eastern boundary of the southernmost field. Following the impact with the wires, the helicopter became uncontrollable and traveled approximately 270 feet from the initial strike site before coming to an upright rest. The crash resulted in serious injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft was destroyed. No fire occurred following the impact, though the emergency locator transmitter failed to activate.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the wire strike and the subsequent loss of control. Investigators examined the flight path, the visibility conditions, and the positioning of the wires relative to the aircraft's trajectory during the reconnaissance phase.