What happened
On a flight involving aerial work and passenger transport, an Astar AS3SS BA helicopter, registration C-GDLY, landed at a generator site approximately 160 nautical miles north of Sept-Îles, Quebec. The site was located near the Kay Subdivision of the Cartier Railway Company tracks. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and two passengers.
Following the landing on ground that sloped upward at an 8.5-degree angle, the passengers began to disembark. The passenger seated in the front left seat exited first and moved toward a nearby shelter. The second passenger, seated behind the pilot, exited the aircraft and began walking around the front of the helicopter. During this process, the pilot heard a thud and felt the aircraft tilt backward. In an attempt to stabilize the helicopter and prevent a rollover, the pilot applied collective and cyclic inputs, causing the aircraft to briefly lift off the ground. During this movement, the main rotor struck the passenger's head. The individual was transported to a hospital in Sept-Îles, where they were pronounced dead.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance, the pilot's qualifications, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot was fully qualified and had extensive experience, with 7,750 helicopter flight hours. The Astar AS350 BA was found to be properly maintained, certified, and equipped with high skids and Airglass skis.
Investigators looked into the sequence of events regarding the passenger's movement and the pilot's reaction to the aircraft's tilt. While the pilot had provided a specific safety briefing to the passengers—emphasizing the need to keep their heads low and avoid passing behind the aircraft—the exact positioning of the passenger at the moment of impact could not be definitively established. The investigation also considered the impact of the 8.5-degree slope and the pilot's reflexive actions to correct the aircraft's backward tilt.
Findings
- The passenger was struck by the main rotor while walking in front of the aircraft.
- The landing site featured an 8.5-degree slope, which is within the flight manual's limit of a 10-degree maximum nose-up attitude for landing.
- The pilot experienced a backward tilt of the aircraft and reacted by using the collective and cyclic controls to regain control.
- The passenger was struck by the main rotor while passing in front of the aircraft, though the precise circumstances of the contact could not be determined.
- Disembarking passengers while the rotors are turning is a recognized industry practice, though it carries inherent risks.