Moving rotor killed helicopter passenger in Nunavut last spring, investigation finds

A man killed in Nunavut last April by a spinning helicopter tail rotor was a frequent flyer who had been warned about the risks during previous flights, transport officials said Wednesday.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says the man was unloading gear with a snowmobile driver for an annual goose hunting trip.

Officials said the man from Attawapiskat, Ont., walked toward the back of the helicopter, but the snowmobiler screamed for him to stop.

The man kept walking and ducked under the helicopter's tail to get to the other side but was killed by the blades.

In the report, transportation officials said helicopter passengers must be vigilant and informed about the machine's danger zones before boarding.

"When a tail rotor is spinning, it is difficult, if not impossible, to see," the report said. "Pilots are reminded to ensure that all passengers and ground personnel are briefed on and understand the hazards of helicopter danger areas."

The report said the helicopter pilot from Heli Explore Inc. was flying community members back and forth from Attawapiskat Airport in Ontario to Akimiski Island in Nunavut for the annual goose hunt, known as the Goose Break.

The helicopter landed near a camp on the last trip of the day and a passenger began unloading gear with a snowmobile driver. The pilot remained in the aircraft, its engine running and rotors turning.

"His hands remained on the controls," the report said of the pilot. "This technique was often used during passenger and
cargo loading and off-loading to allow for a swift reaction if the helicopter were to shift or become unstable on the landing area."

The report said the impact caused the tail rotor and most of its gearbox to detach.

"The pilot felt an impact and severe vibration in the helicopter; he also saw the snowmobile driver backing away from the helicopter with a panicked look."

The pilot shut off the engine and called for help.    

Transportation investigators said the helicopter company has flown Attawapiskat community members to the annual goose hunt since 2022.

In past years, the board said, the company had arranged the flights and given passengers safety briefings, including rules that they should never approach the back of the aircraft. They were also to sign forms confirming they knew the danger zones.

That year, however, an Attawapiskat community member who didn't work for the company organized the trips. They were not required to give safety briefings and didn't know safety waivers needed to be signed.

The helicopter pilot assumed passengers knew the risks, given the safety protocol from previous years. The board noted the man who died wasn't briefed before takeoff, but was a frequent flyer who would have been in past years.

Four months before the man's death, Airbus Helicopters introduced a new paint scheme to make the spinning tail rotor more visible.

The board said the helicopter company required pilots to turn off the engine while passengers got off the aircraft for the rest of the season.

"The company has revised its passenger guidance to provide more information and to warn of the danger of going near the back of a helicopter," the board said.