Occurrence
On 26 September 2023, a Bell 206L helicopter operated by Buchanan & Son Aviation Ltd was conducting a forestry survey flight. The helicopter, carrying one pilot and five passengers, departed from a private property located 27 nautical miles east of Prince George Airport, British Columbia. Shortly after takeoff at 0735 Pacific Daylight Time, approximately 100 feet above the ground, the helicopter began to spin, lost altitude, and struck trees.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot and the passenger seated in the front of the helicopter sustained fatal injuries. The remaining four passengers suffered minor injuries. The helicopter was severely damaged.
Post-Impact Fire and ELT
A post-impact fire occurred near the engine exhaust, which was extinguished by a passenger using the aircraft fire extinguisher. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) activated, but its antenna was damaged in the accident, preventing the signal from being received by the Cospas-Sarsat search and rescue satellite system.
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has initiated a class 3 investigation. This type of investigation analyzes a small number of safety issues and may result in recommendations. The investigation is typically completed within 450 days. The TSB has deployed a team of investigators to the site to gather information and assess the occurrence.