The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 22 August 2019.
Collision with terrain
Robinson Helicopter Company R66 (helicopter), C-GAUA
Timmins (Victor M. Power) Airport, Ontario, 18 nm WNW
The occurrence
On , a privately operated Robinson R66 helicopter was on a flight from Nashville International Airport to Fauquier, Ontario. The helicopter landed at several airports along the route, the last being Sudbury, Ontario, after which it departed for a night visual flight rules flight to its destination. The aircraft was reported overdue two days later. An extensive search was conducted, notably by the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association. The helicopter was located on 11 March 2019 approximately 18 nautical miles west-northwest of Timmins, Ontario. The two occupants were fatally injured.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: March 2019 collision with terrain near Timmins, Ontario
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB is deploying a team of investigators to the site of a helicopter accident near Timmins, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario, 11 March 2019 - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site of a helicopter accident near Timmins, Ontario. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A19O0026
Collision with terrain
Robinson Helicopter Company R66 (helicopter), C-GAUA
Timmins (Victor M. Power) Airport, Ontario, 18 nm WNW
Investigator-in-charge
Jon Douma is a Senior Regional Investigator - Operations with the Ontario Region of the Air Investigations Branch. He joined the TSB in 2019 following 12 years in the business aviation sector, where he flew multiple jet and turboprop types and operated throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Eastern and Western Europe.
Prior to business aviation, he spent several years as a flight instructor, and has maintained an interest in general aviation since then, building and flying multiple amateur-built aircraft with his grandfather.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.