Aerospatiale AS350 accident near Big Trout Lake, Ontario, Ca, May 27, 2011
On May 27, 2011, a Aerospatiale AS350, registered CGSSS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Trout Lake, Ontario. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
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
- May 27, 2011
- Place
- Big Trout Lake, Ontario, Canada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- The NTSB record does not give the injuries.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Aerospatiale AS350 B2 · all AS350s on the register
- Registration
- CGSSS · no longer on the register · serial 2983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
An Expedition Helicopters Aerospatiale AS 350 B-2, registration C-GSSS, powered by a Honeywell LTS-101-700-D engine, was substantially damaged during an emergency autorotation landing following an in-flight engine shutdown. According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada,the helicopter was transporting a drilling crew from a base camp about 80 miles east of Big Trout Lake, Ontario, to a drill site, when, while in cruise flight, an uncommanded left yaw was experienced. The pilot performed an autorotation and the helicopter landed hard in shallow water near the shore of a lake. The helicopter was substantially damaged, but all occupants exited the helicopter safely and waded to shore. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating this event. For further information, contact: Mr. Ross Penden, Investigator-In-Charge Transportation Safety Board of Canada Tele: +1-204-983-2847; Mobile +1-204 771-6999 Email: ross.peden@tsb.gc.ca This report is for informational purposes and contains only information obtained for or released by the TSB.
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
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming LTS101 (turboshaft); 0 hours total
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under CGSSS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.