At approximately 2 p.m. Friday, Fort Good Hope RCMP received a report of a helicopter crash near the wildfire-evacuated community of Fort Good Hope.
An example of a Bell Textron B212. (Photo courtesy Wikimedia)
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada stated Friday evening it will be deploying a team of investigators following the accident involving a Bell Textron Inc. B212 helicopter, operated by Yellowknife’s Great Slave Helicopters 2018 Ltd. today at Fort Good Hope Airport, Northwest Territories.
The TSB will be gathering information and assessing the occurrence.
NWT Fire confirmed the accident occurred “during wildfire management operations.”
Late Saturday afternoon, NWT Fire spokesperson Mike Westwick stated:
“The well-being of our team in the air and on the ground is number one in the wake of the incident in Fort Good Hope yesterday.
“We are ensuring mental and physical safety and wellness are the first priority for our people.
“We can confirm no further details regarding this single occupant helicopter incident at this time. The RCMP and Transportation Board continue to respond.”
As of late Saturday afternoon, there still no official information concerning the injuries or deaths.
CBC North reports one person, the pilot, was on the helicopter.
There are several posts online from Norman Wells residents claiming to know the tragic outcome. CKLB will wait for official confirmation before posting any more information.
CKLB will keep updating this story on our homepage tonight and throughout the weekend as it develops.
UPDATED: On Friday evening. Saturday early afternoon , late afternoon.
UPDATED: July 8, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada reports that a parts failure caused the crash. The tension torsion strap helps hold the rotor blade to the main rotor head. It’s not immediately known why it failed.
Failed tension torsion strap that resulted in the main rotor blade separating from the head of the helicopter involved in the Fort Good Hope fatal crash. (Photo courtesy of TSB)
