Ornge Helicopter Went Down Just After Takeoff, Four On Board Fatally Injured

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has wrapped up its on-site investigation at the scene of an accident in which four people on board a medical helicopter were fatally injured when it went down just after takeoff last Friday.

The helicopter with an air crew described as "experienced" went down about 900 yards from its point of departure, according to a report in theSpec.com. The Canadian Press reports that the Sikorsky S76 helo went down in a remote area of northern Ontario near the Moosonee airport. Ornge, the company which operates the aircraft, grounded its entire fleet of S76 helicopters following the accident. It continued operations with its 10 Pilatus PC-12 airplanes and 10 AW-139 helicopters until the Sikorskys were returned to service Tuesday.

The Toronto Star reports that there was no patient on board at the time of the accident. The crew had departed Moosonee to pick up a patient for transport.

According to a report in the  Toronto Sun, the CTSB said that it had recovered the cockpit voice recorder from the aircraft, and it was being shipped to a laboratory in Ottawa for examination.

Weather at the time of the accident was reported to be overcast, but with good visibility.

FMI: www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/index.asp