What happened
On 1 September 2022, a Bell 429 helicopter, operated by the Canadian Coast Guard, was conducting a local flight under visual flight rules from Puvirnituq Airport, Quebec. The aircraft, which was equipped with a longline, was performing an approach to hook a load. During this maneuver, as the helicopter was nearly stationary over the load, the aircraft began to rotate on its axis. The pilot reported that the flight controls became unresponsive, necessitating an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the helicopter rolled over and came to rest on its side. There were no injuries resulting from the incident.
The investigation
The TSB deployed a team of investigators to the site near Puvirnituq to gather information and assess the circumstances surrounding the accident. The investigation focused on the period during which the aircraft was attempting to secure the load and the subsequent loss of control responsiveness.