What happened
On 12 February 2024, a Bell 206L helicopter, operated by Hanley Heli Service Inc., was performing aerial survey duties over the western portion of Lake Athabasca, near Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. During the flight, the pilot encountered a sudden and significant shift in weather conditions that led to low visibility.
In an attempt to reach safety, the pilot tried to land at the Fort Chipewyan Airport; however, the visibility conditions prevented a successful landing. The pilot subsequently turned the aircraft south across the lake. During this maneuver, the helicopter struck the frozen surface of the lake, triggering the emergency locator transmitter. Search and rescue teams located the wreckage roughly 4 nautical miles east-southeast of the airport. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, sustained fatal injuries. No fire occurred following the impact.
The investigation
The TSB investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the flight and the impact with the frozen lake surface.