ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says a helicopter that crashed near a Newfoundland lake last month was preparing to land and refuel before the pilot lost control of the aircraft.
The federal agency shared new details today about the ongoing investigation into the July 20 crash that killed one man near Thorburn Lake, about 200 kilometres northwest of St. John’s.
Three men were on board the Robinson R44 light utility helicopter that had left Springdale Airport in Newfoundland on one leg of a cross-country pleasure flight.
The pilot had planned to refuel at a maintenance facility on the northeast side of the lake and completed a circuit around the gravel parking lot where he wanted to land.
TSB investigators say as the helicopter began to climb vertically from tree-top level, the pilot lost control and the aircraft crashed into the ground.
RCMP said a 69-year-old Gambo man died at the scene and two others, a 68-year-old man from Aquaforte and a 54-year-old man from St. John’s, were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 14, 2020.
The Canadian Press
