Nearly two years after a fatal helicopter crash near Tweed, Transportation Safety Board is recommending Transport Canada remove any ambiguity when it comes to safety belts on aircraft.
The crash involved a Hydro One helicopter and four employees working in a remote area 20 minutes northeast of Tweed on December 14, 2017.
Manager of International Operations and Major Investigations Ewan Tasker described what happened at the press conference held Wednesday morning.
He said the pilot picked up three power line technicians at a tower base. They loaded a large pulley and tool bags onto an external air stair along with a canvas bag.
Tasker said the pilot then began the short trip to a station base and as he began his descent, the canvas bag with an attached carabiner flew off the air stair, striking the tail rotor and severely damaging it. The helicopter was 230 feet above ground when this occurred.
The damage caused intense vibrations and imbalance. The tail rotor and vertical fin detached and the helicopter began to spin 75 feet above ground.
Tasker stated it was at that time the three passengers in the helicopter became separated from the aircraft.
The helicopter crashed near 1221 Upper Flinton Road, 400 feet northwest of the intended landing site.
All four Hydro One employees died in the crash.
Tasker said they found in their investigation it had become common practice for employees to attach tool bags and other small loads to air stairs for travel to and from work sites.
The final report issued Wednesday morning stated safety belts were rarely used. Tasker explained what happened in further detail.
The recommendation made by the TSB is to remove any ambiguity when it comes to the use of shoulder straps and lap belts said TSB Chair Kathy Fox.
She said when both are available, both should be used.
The other recommendation, made a week following the fatal crash, was that all external cargo be securely fastened for the flight.
Transport Canada has 90 days to respond to the recommendation.
You can find the full report below.
