Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Zama City Canada
Tuesady, March 21, 2006 14:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On March 21, 2006, about 1400 mountain standard time, a Canadian-registered MD Helicopters MD 600N helicopter, C-FTAZ, was destroyed following an in-flight breakup and subsequent collision with terrain, about 31 miles north of Zama City, Alberta, Canada. The solo pilot sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was being utilized to support a geophysical survey crew, transporting personnel and equipment to various remote sites. According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, the helicopter was conducing an external sling-load operation, using a 115-foot long-line, at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported that as the helicopter was en route to a remote site, its tail boom separated, and the helicopter entered an uncontrolled descent until it collided with terrain. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Canada. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Mr. Michael Tomm Transportation Safety Board of Canada 17803-106 A Avenue Edmonton, Alberta Canada T5S 1V8 Phone: (780) 495-2010 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains information released by the government of Canada.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/21/2006
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City Zama City
Event State --
Event Country CANADA
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source --
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA MIDO Office, Pheonix, AZ
NTSB Notification Date Mar 31 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 4 2006 5:07PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA MIDO Office, Pheonix, AZ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number ANC06WA042
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 133: Rotorcraft Ext. Load
Type of Flight Plan filed --
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MD Helicopter
Aircraft Model MD 600
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Helicopter
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address P.O. Box 6099
Operator City Bonnyville, Alberta
Operator State --
Operator Country CA
Operator Zip code T9N2G7
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City --
Departure State --
Departure Country --
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 4 2006 5:07PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --