212 Down

[Western Redneck]

Just heard from a close friend that a 212 crashed in the arctic, killing one of the pilots. Has anyone else heard of anything?

 

[RDM]

Another very sad day.

Western Redneck, apparently your friend is correct.

My thoughts to the family.

 

[3BX2]

The news is beginning to hit the wire.

My sincere condolences to family and friends.....

_____________________________________________________________



Updated: 11-01-2004 09:40:52 AM

One Dead And Four Stranded After Weekend Helicopter Crash In Nunavut



Associated Press

KUGAARUK, Nunavut (CP) -- A helicopter crash in the high Arctic Saturday killed one person and injured four others, stranding them throughout the weekend while they waited out high winds and heavy snow.

Two pilots for Canadian Helicopters Ltd. and three contractors for Nasittuq Corp. were on board at the time of the crash about 150 kilometres south of Kugaaruk, Nunavut, said Bob Heighington of Canadian Helicopters in Edmonton.

They had just finished servicing the North Warning System station at Shepherd Bay, when their Bell 212 helicopter crashed at takeoff, said Pierre Balduc, of National Search and Rescue.

One person died on impact, while four others suffered unknown injuries.

Officials are not yet releasing names.

Two specialized search and rescue technicians were dispatched from Winnipeg in a Hercules aircraft Saturday afternoon.

They provided emergency medical care and are currently waiting at the station with the four stranded survivors until high winds and heavy snowfall subside.

``(Monday), weather permitting, a helicopter will go in and take all the injured people to Kugaaruk,'' said RCMP Const. Chris Coles.

RCMP and Transport Canada officials will follow shortly after to conduct an investigation, he said.

The North Warning System is a chain of 47 unmanned radar sites and five logistic support sites in the high Arctic that provide information about airborne activity in the vast region from Alaska, the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and down the Labrador coast.

The system was constructed between 1986 and 1992 and replaced the cold-war-era Distant Early Warning Line.

In 2001, the Nasittuq corporation of Ottawa was awarded the operations and maintenance contract for the system.

Nasittuq, in turn, contracted Canadian Helicopters for transportation in the region.

The company was unavailable for comment on Sunday. (Edmonton Journal)

 

[MagSeal]

I just heard who the pilot was, my condolences to his family. 🙁

 

[Batfink]

I know both pilots - the survivor very well. God Bless.

 

[Nomex]

Magseal, check your pm's please.

 

[204B Driver]

My condolences to his family.

 

[canook pilot]

My prayers and thoughts for the families. 🙁

 

[GoldMember]

I just hear about the crash, and would like to express my sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of the pilot who lost his life.

I know two IFR drivers who work on that job and I can't get ahold of either one, so if someone could please PM me with a name I'd be grateful.

 

[Nomex]

The crew & px are still on scene due to a bad storm - 2 SAR techs are with them, awaiting a lull until a machine can get in to get them. Was a snow storm when the accident happened - not sure if night had fallen at the time of the accident. Night IFR is routine on that job.

 

[beltdrive]

My condolences to the family. They got them out yet? Just got back from up there.

 

[3BX2]

Tue, November 2, 2004


Survivors brought to 'Peg

'Copter down in high Arctic

By CP and staff


Four survivors of a helicopter crash in the high Arctic were rescued and airlifted to Winnipeg yesterday. A doctor who assessed the crash victims at a northern base near Kugaaruk, Nunavut, and travelled with them to Winnipeg said they were suffering minor fractures, bruises, cuts and trauma but were all in stable condition.

CO-PILOT KILLED

The survivors, whose names have not yet been released, were taken to Health Sciences Centre after arriving at 17 Wing shortly after 5:30 p.m. yesterday.

The helicopter crashed on Saturday about 150 km south of Kugaaruk and claimed the life of the co-pilot.

"The captain survived and the three passengers survived, but the first officer was killed," said Peter Hildebrand of the Transportation Safety Board in Winnipeg.

The survivors had to walk about one kilometre to the nearest place with a phone to call for help.

Search and rescue officials said a helicopter made it to the remote spot north of Hudson Bay on Sunday night, but had to wait until yesterday morning for a break in blizzard conditions.

"Obviously in a situation like this, the recovery and the treatment of people who've been injured in an incident is extremely important, but it's also extremely important not to add further casualties to the situation," said RCMP Const. Chris Coles.

"So they remained on standby, able to go at a moment's notice if there was a break in the weather."

The four injured were flown about 180 kilometres to a Hercules aircraft that was waiting with a doctor near Kugaaruk, Nunavut.

Two pilots with Canadian Helicopters Ltd. and three contractors for Nasittuq Corp. were on board when the Bell 212 helicopter crashed.

RCMP and Transport Canada are investigating the crash.

 

[cap]

Anyone that wishes to know the names of the pilots concerned can connect onto the Winnipeg Free Press site and get them there because it's on the front page and takes up most of it.

 

[MINI]

Very sad indeed.My condolences to the familys of all onboard.
The free press site only works if you pay or suscribe to the paper or site.

If its already in the paper maybe someone on this site could let others know

Mini............

 

[cap]

MINI ------ I saw that and apologize for that mis-information. Personally, I won't quote names from a newspaper until I am absolutely 100% sure. That was once did to me by CBC North and they called my wife for comments on the death of her husband...........and I was still alive and enjoying a shot of Glenlivet at that moment.