ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 268542
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: | Friday 8 October 2021 |
| Time: | 15:45 UTC |
| Type: |  Guimbal Cabri G2 |
| Owner/operator: | Synergy Aviation |
| Registration: | C-GSYN |
| MSN: | 1176 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2016 |
| Engine model: | Avco Lycoming O-360-J2A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Wachigabau Lake, QC -
 Canada
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Survey |
| Departure airport: | Chibougamau/Chapais Airport, QC (YMT/CYMT) |
| Investigating agency: | TSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A Guimbal Cabri G2 operated by Synergy Aviation Ltd, took off under visual flight rules (VFR) from Chibougamau/Chapais, QC (CYMT) with 1 pilot on board to conduct magnetometer survey work at about 200 feet above ground level. While flying over a lake in glassy water conditions, the pilot made a course correction and struck the surface of the lake approximately 54 nautical miles southwest of CYMT. The pilot sustained minor injuries and exited the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries and exited the helicopter submerged inverted. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and sank. The pilot swam to shore, managed to report his crash, and a few hours later was rescued by the Canadian Forces Search and Rescue helicopter.
Findings as to causes and contributing factors
1. The routine practice of descending and flying below 25 m (82 feet) when over water or flat, open fields, left the occurrence pilot insufficient height or time to detect and react to operational hazards.
2. While flying at low level over the lake, the mirror effect of the glassy water resulted in a reduction of visual cues needed for depth perception. Consequently, an inadvertent descent went unnoticed by the pilot and the helicopter collided with the surface of the lake.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
TSB
https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/medias-media/communiques/aviation/2023/a21q0097-20230831.html
https://aerossurance.com/air-accidents-incidents/helicopter-water-impact-accident-safety-of-airborne-geophysical-survey-operations/
Location
Media:
Well done @RCAFOperations 424 Transport and Rescue Sqn and 439 Combat Support Sqn who located the pilot of a crashed helicopter on Lac Wachigabau, PQ yesterday and transported in good condition to Chibougamau. #RESCUE #SAR pic.twitter.com/yVMWMuyraF
— Trenton JRCC CCCOS (@JRCCTrentCCCOS) October 9, 2021
An accident highlights problems implementing flight following technology, dangerous use of marine lifejackets and the value of considering #competence.https://t.co/61Ou39JXAI#geophysicalsurvey #aerialsurvey #helicopter #flightsafety #aviationsafety #humanfactors #survivability pic.twitter.com/7gcKTcwPgY
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) November 5, 2023
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Oct-2021 17:35 | harro | Added |
| 31-Aug-2023 14:48 | harro | Updated |
| 02-Sep-2023 10:02 | Aerossurance | Updated |
| 05-Nov-2023 11:01 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Embed code] |
| 04-Mar-2024 17:17 | ASN | Updated [Embed code, Accident report] |
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