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Super Puma Helicopter Landing Gear Incident at St. John's

Super Puma (Helicopter) C-GQCH, CA

On July 1, 1997, an Eurocopter AS332L operated by Cougar Helicopters Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Super Puma (Helicopter) C-GQCH, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The crew inadvertently did not complete the pre-landing check and did not recognize the landing gear warning when it activated prior to the attempted landing. This summary draws on records from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB)Primary reportUpdated 2026-10-18Data APIEditorial standards

A Super Puma helicopter, serial 2139, made an ILS approach to St. John's with landing gear retracted. The crew established a hover, lowered the gear, and landed safely. No injuries were reported.

Incident Overview and Immediate Response On an instrument landing system (ILS) approach to runway 29 at St. John's, Newfoundland, the crew of a Super Puma helicopter, serial number 2139, realized the aircraft was lower than normal and the landing gear was still retracted. The crew transitioned to a hover; however, applying collective pitch caused the nose to contact the runway. After establishing the hover, the landing gear was lowered and the helicopter landed without further incident. Damage was limited to two communications antennae and the supporting fuselage structure. There were no injuries to the 2 crew members or 11 passengers.

Probable cause

The crew inadvertently did not complete the pre-landing check and did not recognize the landing gear warning when it activated prior to the attempted landing.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Jul 1997 Eurocopter AS332L accident near Super Puma (Helicopter) C-GQCH, CA?

A Super Puma helicopter, serial 2139, made an ILS approach to St. John's with landing gear retracted. The crew established a hover, lowered the gear, and landed safely. No injuries were reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 1 Jul 1997 Eurocopter AS332L accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Jul 1997 involved an Eurocopter AS332L, operated by Cougar Helicopters Inc., at Super Puma (Helicopter) C-GQCH, CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew inadvertently did not complete the pre-landing check and did not recognize the landing gear warning when it activated prior to the attempted landing.

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