What happened
On August 18, 2024, an Airbus AS350 B2 helicopter, registered privately, was performing a visual flight rules flight from a private property in Mirabel, Quebec, toward Launay, Quebec. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and two passengers.
After stopping at Mont-Laurier Aerodrome for refueling, the pilot began traveling north along Route 117. Due to deteriorating weather conditions in the vicinity of Mont-Laurier, the pilot decided to land within the La Vérendrye Park wildlife reserve to wait out the weather before continuing the journey north.
Following the flight, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre received notification that the aircraft was missing during the evening hours. Search efforts located the helicopter the following morning, where it was found submerged in D’Elvert Lake, near Route 117. The accident resulted in 3 fatalities.
The investigation
As a Class 4 investigation, the scope of this inquiry was limited. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the aircraft being reported missing and its eventual discovery in the lake.