Crashed helicopter recovered in Canadian Arctic

The TSB has recovered the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed into the Arctic Ocean earlier this month. (Transportation Safety Board)
The TSB has recovered the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed into the Arctic Ocean earlier this month. (Transportation Safety Board)
A Coast Guard helicopter that crashed two weeks ago into the M’Clure Strait on the north shore of Banks Island, Canada has been pulled from the depths of the Arctic Ocean.

On September 9th, the helicopter plunged into water while out on a reconnaissance mission from the icebreaker Amundsen. The ship lost radio contact with the helicopter and when the Amundsen came to their last known whereabouts, they found the three victims floating on the surface.

The chopper was recovered late yesterday, half a kilometre below the surface. Investigators are beginning to piece together what happened.

“Having the wreckage will allow us to make a more thorough examination such as engine transmission instruments and any pieces that can provide us with some clue about what could have happened,” Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Jean-Marc Ledoux said.

It could take a year or more before it’s known what caused the crash. The helicopter did not carry flight data recorders, but it did have a camera.

It’s not clear if the camera was recording at the time of the crash, but if it was it could provide crucial information to investigators.

The pilot and his two passengers died of hypothermia.

The CBC has learned only the pilot was wearing a full Arctic immersion suit and it was not completely zipped up.

Two of the men were found without life jackets, and the third was not properly inflated.

CBC News

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