What happened
On 21 April 2024, an Aerospatiale AS-350 BA helicopter, operated by Heli Explore Inc., departed from Attawapiskat Airport, Ontario. The aircraft was en route to a remote camp situated on Akimiski Island, Nunavut, where it touched down in an open area.
Following the landing, the engine remained operational. As a passenger disembarked the aircraft to assist another individual from the camp with unloading cargo, the passenger came into contact with the rotating tail rotor. The impact resulted in one fatality. The force of the contact caused the tail rotor and the tail rotor gearbox to detach from the helicopter.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the event, which focused on the circumstances surrounding the contact between the passenger and the aircraft's tail rotor during the unloading process.