Published on: Mar 16, 2005<\/b><\/p>\n
TSB # A02\/2005<\/p>\n
THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OF CANADA RELEASES ITS FINAL REPORT (A03O0012) INTO THE FATAL CRASH OF A HELICOPTER IN MEKATINA, ONTARIO<\/p>\n
(Gatineau, Quebec, March 16, 2005) – The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today is releasing its final report on the Eurocopter AS\u00a0350\u00a0B2 helicopter accident of January\u00a021,\u00a02003 in Mekatina, Ontario.<\/p>\n
The helicopter, after experiencing a hydraulic system failure, departed controlled flight and crashed while manoeuvring for landing at a logging site in Mekatina. Before the incident, the pilot and three passengers on board the helicopter were conducting a moose survey approximately 45\u00a0nautical miles northeast of Sault\u00a0Ste.\u00a0Marie, Ontario. The pilot and three passengers, all employees of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Ontario, were killed.<\/p>\n
The TSB found that it is likely that the hydraulic pump belt failed in flight, causing the hydraulic failure. Examination of the failed belt and other similar unbroken belts from other helicopters revealed extensive cracking in the same location. Without proper control of the helicopter, the forces encountered by the pilot during the turn at low altitude may have been too extreme to overcome.<\/p>\n
As safety deficiencies were uncovered by the TSB during its investigation, these were immediately made known to industry and regulators so they could be addressed as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
In response to the TSB findings in this investigation, many safety actions were taken by Transport Canada and by the Direction G\u00e9n\u00e9rale de l’Aviation Civile:<\/p>\n
No recommendations have been issued by the TSB because the industry and regulators have acted swiftly to address safety deficiencies when identified during the course of the investigation. This is considered a success, as the TSB’s goal is to advance transportation safety and to ensure that similar accidents do not recur.<\/p>\n
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation 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.<\/p>\n
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