What happened
On 20 August 2023, an AS-350 helicopter, registered as BA, was performing external load operations in the vicinity of Wawa, Ontario. The aircraft, operated by Expedition Helicopters, was assisting a mining operation by using a long line to position a load onto a platform. During this process, several members of the ground crew were present to assist with the placement. While the pilot was maneuvering the aircraft, a member of the ground crew became entangled in the external load. The entanglement caused the individual to fall as the helicopter continued its movement. The incident resulted in one fatality, with no other injuries reported. The helicopter sustained no damage during the event.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the incident. The scope of the inquiry focused on the sequence of events during the positioning of the load and the circumstances surrounding the ground crew member's entanglement and subsequent fall.