ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 264873
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| Date: | Monday 28 June 2021 |
| Time: | 18:30 |
| Type: |  Bell 212 |
| Owner/operator: | Yellowhead Helicopters |
| Registration: | C-GYHQ |
| MSN: | 30933 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1979 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Evansburg, AB -
 Canada
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | |
| Investigating agency: | TSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
A Yellowhead Helicopters Bell 212, was conducting forest fire operations approximately 4 NM W of Evansburg, AB.
At approximately 18:00, the helicopter departed the staging area to complete a series of 3 flights transporting groups of forest fire fighters back to the staging area. The first 2 trips were completed uneventfully. During the last trip, as the helicopter was approaching the landing area to pick up the final group of fire fighters, one of the main rotor blades separated from the rotor head assembly. The second rotor blade and rotor head assembly then broke free from the helicopter and the helicopter crashed. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured. There was a post-impact fire that destroyed the helicopter. A signal from the 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter was not received.
Findings as to causes and contributing factors
- One of the main rotor hub strap retaining pins—a flight safety critical aircraft part—was manufactured from a type of steel that was weaker than the steel required by design. As a result, the pin failed in flight and its associated main rotor blade separated from the helicopter. The remaining blade and the main rotor head assembly subsequently separated from the helicopter and the helicopter impacted the ground.
- For undetermined reasons, the quality control inspector at Fore Machine Company did not observe, either through visual inspection or through a review of the certification paperwork, that mixed material was identified in the lot. Consequently, pins made of the incorrect material specification were allowed to continue through the production process.
- The lack of training requirements for hardness testing within the standard operating procedures likely contributed to the procedure being completed incorrectly. As a result, the non-conforming pins were allowed to continue in the manufacturing process.
- For undetermined reasons, the quality control systems in place at Fore Machine Company did not identify the non-conforming main rotor hub strap retaining pins; consequently, the pins were not identified and removed from the supply chain.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildfire-helicopter-crash-1.6083936
https://edmontonsun.com/news/local-news/forestry-helicopter-fighting-wildfire-crashes-near-evansburg/wcm/45581638-8efd-4140-a2c5-8523a42b3a87
https://www.660citynews.com/2021/06/29/helicopter-pilot-wildfire-killed-west-edmonton/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildfire-helicopter-crash-1.6083936?cmp=rss
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ccarcs-riacc/ADet.aspx?id=24121&rfr=RchSimp.aspx
http://aerossurance.com/helicopters/b212-rotor-defect-production/
Media:
We are sad to confirm that one of our contract helicopters crashed yesterday evening while fighting wildfire EWF-075 in the Evansburg area. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of everyone involved. Alberta Wildfire is working with the RCMP and the TSB to investigate the cause. pic.twitter.com/Dqzx3WWXsU
— Alberta Wildfire (@AlbertaWildfire) June 29, 2021
Remarkable failures in critical parts control resulted in a fatal B212 in-flight break-up. https://t.co/pXFb8NlqiE #helicopter #production #qualitymanagement #airworthiness #flightsafety #aviationsafety pic.twitter.com/E3D8V9BNn6
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) September 17, 2022
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 29-Jun-2021 05:47 | gerard57 | Added |
| 29-Jun-2021 16:42 | Geno | Updated [Total fatalities] |
| 29-Jun-2021 18:24 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Location, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 29-Jun-2021 18:25 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 29-Jun-2021 18:27 | Aerossurance | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Narrative] |
| 30-Jun-2021 19:15 | Anon. | Updated [Operator] |
| 03-Jul-2021 06:41 | as350mech | Updated [Registration, Cn, Source] |
| 07-Jul-2021 19:54 | harro | Updated [Narrative] |
| 17-Sep-2022 09:47 | Aerossurance | Updated [Phase, Source] |
| 17-Sep-2022 09:59 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 15-Nov-2023 18:03 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Embed code] |
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