Great Lakes Helicopter R22 Accident, November 2011
In late November 2011 a Robinson R22 helicopter on a training flight was involved in an accident with a dateline of Breslau, Ontario. The flight instructor died and the student was taken to hospital. The operator, Great Lakes Helicopter, issued a public statement the following day, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada opened an investigation.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | Robinson R22 |
| Operator | Great Lakes Helicopter |
| Flight | Routine training exercise with a student |
| Time | About 11:30 a.m., per the operator's statement |
| Date | Late November 2011, probably November 29 |
| Fatality | A 29-year-old flight instructor |
| Investigating body | Transportation Safety Board of Canada |
What the operator said
The company statement said the aircraft was on a routine training exercise when the accident happened. The 29-year-old instructor did not survive. The student was taken to Hamilton General Hospital for treatment of injuries, and no further hospital details were released. The company said a memorial trust fund would be set up for the instructor's family and asked the media to respect the privacy of family and friends. The cause was not known at the time, and the statement did not give one.
The aircraft type
The Robinson R22 is a two-seat, two-bladed, single-engine light helicopter built by Robinson Helicopter Company. Frank Robinson designed it in 1973, and it has been in production since 1979. Its purchase and operating costs are relatively low, so it is widely used as a primary trainer. The low-inertia rotor system makes the controls sensitive, and a special flight instructor endorsement is required to teach in it in the United States. Robinson started a safety course for instructors in 1982 after a run of student-related accidents in the early 1980s.
Where Breslau is
Breslau is a community in Woolwich Township in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, separated from Kitchener by the Grand River. It lies near the Region of Waterloo International Airport, which is south of the built-up area. It is a separate community from Cambridge, although the two are in the same region.
The role of the TSB
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is the federal agency that investigates accidents in aviation, rail, marine and pipelines. It was created in 1990 and is independent of the department that regulates transport. It issues findings and safety recommendations and does not assign legal blame. The operator's statement said the board was investigating this accident. A final report, if one was issued, was not retrieved.
Frequently asked questions
What type of aircraft was involved? A Robinson R22, a two-seat training helicopter.
Who was flying it? A 29-year-old flight instructor with a student on board.
Who investigated? The Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
Was a cause announced in the company statement? No. It said the cause had not been determined.
Is Breslau part of Cambridge? No. It is in Woolwich Township, north of Cambridge in the same region.
Sources
Great Lakes Helicopter statement as reproduced by Kathryn's Report on November 30, 2011; Wikipedia articles on the Robinson R22, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and Breslau, Ontario.