ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 232383
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Wednesday 22 January 2020 |
| Time: | 14:13 LT |
| Type: |  Bell 206LT TwinRanger |
| Owner/operator: | Gouvernement du Québec |
| Registration: | C-GSQA |
| MSN: | 52060 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1994 |
| Engine model: | Allison 250-C20R |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Lac Saint-Jean, near Alma, QC -
 Canada
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | Saint-Henri-de-Taillon, Quebec |
| La Tuque Airport, QC (YLQ/CYLQ) | |
| Investigating agency: | TSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On the morning of 22 January 2020, two helicopters operated by Quebec’s Service aérien gouvernemental took off from the Montréal/St-Hubert Airport (CYHU), Quebec, at 07:50 local time, bound for Saint-Henri-de-Taillon, Quebec, to provide air support to a search for snowmobilers who had been reported missing the day before.
Early in the afternoon, one of the 2 helicopters, the Bell 206L-4 (registration C-GSQA), was released from this assignment, and the pilot, alone on board, took off from Saint-Henri-de-Taillon at 14:02, bound for the La Tuque Aerodrome (CYLQ), Quebec. Approximately 7 minutes after takeoff, the helicopter struck the frozen, snow-covered surface of Lac Saint-Jean. The aircraft was destroyed but there was no post-impact fire. Despite serious injuries, the pilot was able to egress from the aircraft and call the Service aérien gouvernemental dispatcher to report the accident.
Findings as to causes and contributing factors:
1. Even though visibility was 25 statute miles, flat light was obscuring the shadows and contrast at the snow-covered surface of the lake, reducing the visual cues needed for depth perception and 3-dimensional vision.
2. The pilot’s knowledge and training did not provide him with the skills to recognize the risks associated with low contrast resulting from flat light during cruise flight and when good visibility made it possible to see the shoreline in the distance.
3. Given the operational constraints related to speed and remaining daylight, and the fact that the aircraft had twin engines, the pilot, who was able to distinguish the shoreline in the distance, veered to the right to fly a more direct path to his destination, moving laterally away from the shoreline.
4. Even though the shoreline was visible in the distance, once the pilot moved laterally away from the shoreline and passed the islands, there was a significant reduction in reliable visual cues on the ground to help the pilot establish and maintain his height visually over the snow-covered surface of a lake; this situation went unnoticed by the pilot.
5. Given the significant decrease in reliable visual cues on the ground, an unexpected descent went unnoticed by the pilot and the helicopter struck the frozen surface of the lake. It is highly likely that the helicopter was under control at that point.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/police-helicopter-crashes-during-search-for-missing-snowmobilers-1.4779043
https://globalnews.ca/news/6445567/quebec-lac-saint-jean-snowmobilers-death-missing/
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CCARCS-RIACC/ADet.aspx?id=24505&rfr=RchSimp.aspx
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/cadors-screaq/rd.aspx?cno%3d%26dtef%3d2020-01-21%26dtet%3d2020-01-23%26otp%3d-1%26ftop%3d%253e%253d%26ftno%3d0%26ijop%3d%253e%253d%26ijno%3d0%26olc%3d%26prv%3dQC%26rgn%3d-1%26tsbno%3d%26tsbi%3d-1%26arno%3d%26ocatno%3d%26ocatop%3d1%26oevtno%3d%26oevtop%3d1%26evtacoc%3d3%26fltno%3d%26fltr%3d-1%26cars%3d-1%26acat%3d-1%26nar%3d%26aiddl%3d-1%26aidxt%3d%26optdl%3d-1%26optcomt%3d%26optseq%3d%26optxt%3d%26opdlxt%3dResults%2bwill%2bappear%2bin%2bthis%2blist%26mkdl%3d-1%26mkxt%3d%26mdldl%3d-1%26mdlxt%3d%26cmkdl%3dC%26cmkxt%3d%26rt%3dQR%26hypl%3dy%26cnum%3d2020Q0189
http://aerossurance.com/helicopters/quebec-flat-light-cfit-206lt/
https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/1/91508_1193584246.jpg (photo)
Media:
The hazard of flat light is its insidious nature. Even when visibility is good and the horizon is visible, a loss of depth perception may go undetected. https://t.co/72ulvHfuwO #helicopter #accident #flightsafety #aviationsafety #humanfactors pic.twitter.com/jEYWeruf7W
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) December 11, 2021
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Jan-2020 15:22 | rossmcgowan | Added |
| 23-Jan-2020 17:56 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Nature, Narrative] |
| 25-Jan-2020 07:40 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 07-Feb-2020 19:49 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Source] |
| 22-Feb-2021 18:04 | harro | Updated [Nature] |
| 03-May-2021 19:13 | Anon. | Updated [Phase, Narrative] |
| 10-Dec-2021 20:50 | harro | Updated [Operator, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
| 11-Dec-2021 13:38 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Embed code, Damage] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation