Bell 206L accident near Kapuskasing, Ca, November 2, 2011
On November 2, 2011 at about 1:58 pm local time, a Bell 206L (helicopter), registered CGDQH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Kapuskasing. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2011 · about 1:58 pm local time
- Place
- Kapuskasing, Canada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206L · all 206Ls on the register
- Registration
- CGDQH · no longer on the register · serial 45046
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 2, 2011, about 0958 eastern daylight time (EDT), a Bell 206L helicopter, Canadian registration C-GDQH, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada. The pilot and 2 passengers sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions reportedly existed in the vicinity of the accident site. The exact flight itinerary has not been established at this time. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada. Any further information may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada 200 Promenade du Portage Place du Centre, 4th Floor Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1K8 Canada Web site: http://www.tsb.gc.ca This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by or obtained from the Government of Canada.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during maneuvering defining event
Crew member
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Sunrise Helicopters Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: CYYU Kapuskasing
- Destination: CYYU Kapuskasing
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from CYYU, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.