Robinson R44 accident near St Joachim De Courval, Ca, February 2, 2018
On February 2, 2018 at about 1:45 am local time, a Robinson R44 (helicopter), registered CGYMG, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near St Joachim De Courval. It was a personal flight under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed.
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
- February 2, 2018 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- St Joachim De Courval, Canada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Robinson R44 UNDESIGNAT · all R44s on the register
- Registration
- CGYMG · no longer on the register · serial 2081
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On February 2, 2018, about 0145 UTC, a Robinson R-44 helicopter, Canadian registry C-GYMG, owned and operated by a private operator, impacted in a field at St-Joachim-de-Courval, Quebec, Canada. A post impact fire ensued. The pilot and two passengers on board were fatally injured. The helicopter was destroyed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the non-scheduled, personal cross-country flight that had departed from St-George-de-Beauce, Quebec, and was destined for St-Felix-de-Valois, Quebec, Canada.This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Canada. Any further information regarding the investigation can be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada Place du Centre 200 Promenade du Portage 4th Floor Gatineau, Quebec Canada K1A 1K8 Telephone: 514-633-2952 Facsimile: 514-928-5809 E-mail: airops@tsb.bst-bst.gc.ca This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the TSB 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
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,399 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 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.