TSB report cites inexperienced pilot and bad weather as reasons for fatal helicopter crash

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s investigation into a February 2018 helicopter crash near Drummondville, Que. is complete.

The report cites the pilot’s lack of experience in instrument flying, particularly at night, as well as inclement weather as the reason for the fatal crash.

All three people on board were killed when the Robinson R44 Raven I helicopter went down around in the evening hours of Feb. 1, 2018.

The pilot was 57-year-old businessman Jean-Claude Mailhot and the other two passengers were his 32-year-old daughter Janie and her friend Nathalie Desrosiers.

In the report, which was made public on Monday, the TSB says it’s likely bad weather caused Mailhot to experience spatial disorientation and lose control of the aircraft.

Mailhot had a valid license and was rated to fly at night, but investigators say his limited experience with night flights meant he didn’t have the skill to respond to reduction in visual references to the ground.

The report also notes that current regulations don’t require pilots to maintain their night-flying skills once they obtain their rating.

With files from the Canadian Press.