Summary
On 31 May 2013, at approximately 0011 Eastern Daylight Time, the Sikorsky S-76A helicopter (registration C-GIMY, serial number 760055), operated as Lifeflight 8, departed at night from Runway 06 at the Moosonee Airport, Ontario, on a visual flight rules flight to the Attawapiskat Airport, Ontario, with 2 pilots and 2 paramedics on board. As the helicopter climbed through 300 feet above the ground toward its planned cruising altitude of 1000 feet above sea level, the pilot flying commenced a left-hand turn toward the Attawapiskat Airport, approximately 119 nautical miles to the northwest of the Moosonee Airport. Twenty-three seconds later, the helicopter impacted trees and then struck the ground in an area of dense bush and swampy terrain. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and the ensuing post-crash fire. The helicopter’s satellite tracking system reported a takeoff message and then went inactive. The search-and-rescue satellite system did not detect a signal from the emergency locator transmitter. At approximately 0543, a search-and-rescue aircraft located the crash site approximately 1 nautical mile northeast of Runway 06, and deployed search-and-rescue technicians. However, there were no survivors.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada Recommendation A16-05
“The Department of Transport establish rigorous ELT system crash survivability standards that reduce the likelihood that an ELT system will be rendered inoperative as a result of impact forces sustained during an aviation occurrence.”
Transport Canada Response to Recommendation A16-05
Transport Canada agrees in principle with this recommendation.
Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) technology and its development is an international effort. In Canada, ELTs in use typically meet FAA TSO-C91a and/or TSO-C126 or later revision, which incorporates by reference the consensus-based standards of RTCA/DO-204. These standards are paralleled in Europe by EASA’s ETSO-2C126, incorporating EUROCAE ED-62. ELTs meeting the latest TSO-C126b standard must meet the test criteria for shock and crash safety of RTCA/DO-204A, sections 2.3.4.1 and 2.6.3.2.
Transport Canada has recently joined the RTCA Special Committee SC-229, which is tasked to update the DO-204 standards to address the latest design, performance, installation and operational issues for emergency beacons. In parallel to crash survivability requirements, the SC-229 will consider the need to develop standards for pre-accident automatic ELT activation.