Flight Details
Two Bell 206L-3 helicopters, registration C-FLYO and another, departed from Niagara Falls, Ontario, en route to the Bell Helicopter Textron factory at Mirabel, Quebec. The aircraft flew in formation in visual meteorological conditions. The C-FLYO helicopter, with a pilot and one passenger on board, followed the lead helicopter piloted by the formation leader, who was also the company owner and chief pilot. The flight included stops at Toronto and Kingston, Ontario, for passenger boarding and refueling. The two helicopters departed Kingston at approximately 1321 eastern standard time.
Accident Sequence
En route, weather deteriorated, and the flight continued at low altitude and reduced speed. The pilots obtained meteorological information indicating adverse conditions at the destination: a ceiling of 300 feet and visibility of one mile in rain and haze. While following a highway near Saint-Eustache, Quebec, the flight path intersected three electrical transmission lines. The first two lines were at 120 feet; the third, at 270 feet, was obscured by low cloud. The formation leader flew over the first two lines and then descended under the third line.
To maintain separation, the C-FLYO pilot hovered above the first set of cables. The passenger noticed the helicopter moving left and losing altitude and warned the pilot of collision danger. The pilot immediately backed up, entered a right turn, and descended for a landing. The aircraft touched down while moving sideways to the right. It bounced twice on the right skid, the main rotor blades struck a metal road sign, and the helicopter rolled over onto its right side at the edge of a highway congested with rush-hour traffic. The accident occurred in uncontrolled airspace between the Mirabel and Dorval control zones.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained minor injuries; the passenger was uninjured. The helicopter rolled over and sustained damage, including main rotor blade strike on a road sign.
Causes and Contributing Factors
While in hovering flight high above the ground, the pilot lost control of the aircraft after executing a manoeuvre to avoid colliding with a wire. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's decision to continue the flight in adverse weather conditions and the pilot's inadequate visual references while he was hovering above the electrical transmission line.
Safety Actions Taken
Transport Canada is developing guidance material for the interpretation of Canadian Aviation Regulations 702 and 703, including the suggestion that operators appoint dedicated Operations Managers and Chief Pilots separate from the corporate or financial arm of the company. Transport Canada will also review formation flying through the Canadian Aviation Regulation Advisory Council (CARAC) and will publish a feature article on formation flying hazards in the Aviation Safety Newsletter Vortex.