What happened
On 25 August 2023, a Robinson R44II helicopter, operated by Synergy Aviation Ltd., was performing external load operations approximately 30 nautical miles east of Grande Cache, Alberta. During the takeoff phase from an oil field site, the longline attached to the aircraft's cargo hook became entangled with a railing belonging to the oil field infrastructure. This snagging action caused the helicopter to collide with the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot, who was the only person on board, sustained serious injuries during the impact.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the incident. The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the lifting operation and the interaction between the longline and the surrounding oil field equipment.