Collision with frozen lake surface
Canadian Helicopters Limited
Bell B206 LR (helicopter)
Sept-Îles, Quebec, 49 NM WNW
The occurrence
A Canadian Helicopters Limited Bell B206LR helicopter was on a visual flight rules flight from Port Cartier, Quebec, to a camp 110 miles north-north-west of Port Cartier with three passengers and one pilot on board. When the helicopter was approximately 49 nautical miles west-northwest of the Sept-Îles Airport, Quebec, visibility decreased due to heavy snow. The pilot attempted to maintain ground reference and slowed the helicopter while initiating a descent. While attempting a 180-degree turn, the pilot lost visual reference, and the helicopter struck the frozen surface of a lake. The helicopter then rolled onto its side, and the pilot activated the emergency locator transmitter.
The four occupants sustained minor injuries from the impact, and exited the helicopter. Another company helicopter rescued the occupants.
Investigation information
A23Q0038
Collision with frozen lake surface
Canadian Helicopters Limited
Bell B206 LR (helicopter)
Sept-Îles, Quebec, 49 NM WNW
Investigator-in-charge
Simon St-Pierre joined the TSB team in 2019, and works as a regional senior investigator (Air) out of the Quebec regional office. Over the course of his career, Mr. St-Pierre has accumulated approximately 4500 hours of flight as pilot on different types of aircraft such as Beech C90A, Cessna 550, Jetstream 31 and multiple floatplanes. Since 2010, he has worked at Transport Canada as a Civil Aviation Safety Inspector and since 2014, he worked as a Technical Team Lead/Flight Operations.
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Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.