Bell 206B accident near Flatlands, Ca, September 4, 2016
On September 4, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Bell 206B (helicopter), registered CGVJT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Flatlands. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- September 4, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Flatlands, Canada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bell 206B B · all 206Bs on the register
- Registration
- CGVJT · no longer on the register · serial 3492
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 4, 2016, about 1600 Atlantic Daylight Time, a Bell model 206B helicopter, Canadian registration C-GVJT, serial number 3492, collided with power lines during cruise flight before crashing into the Restigouche River near Flatlands, New Brunswick, Canada. The pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The remaining passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by 9288-1523 Québec Incorporated. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight from Charlo Airport (CYCL), Charlo, New Brunswick, to Rivière-du-Loup Airport (CYRI), Québec. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Government. Further information may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada 200 Promenade du Portage Place du Centre, 4th Floor Gatineau, Québec K1A 1K8 Phone: +1 819-994-3741 Fax: +1 819-997-2239 E-mail: AirOps@bst-tsb.gc.ca Webpage: http://bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/index.asp This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Transportation Safety Board 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
- Low altitude operation/event during enroute (cruise) defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Injury: fatal
Passenger
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rolls-Royce (turboshaft); 0 hours total
- Operator: 9288-1523 Québec Inc
The flight
- Departed from: CYCL Charlo
- Destination: CYRI Rivière-Du-Loup
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.