The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 14 December 2018.
Collision with wires
Mosquito XE, C-FHEZ
Okotoks, Alberta, 5.5 nm NE
The occurrence
On , a privately operated amateur-built Mosquito XE helicopter was on a flight near Indus/Winters Aire Park Airport, Alberta, with only the pilot on board. While flying along the Highwood River, the helicopter struck a power line at approximately 75 feet above ground level, and then impacted the ground on the river bank. The aircraft was destroyed, and the pilot was fatally injured. There was no post impact fire. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: July 2018 collision with wires near Okotoks, Alberta
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators to an amateur-built helicopter accident southeast of Calgary, Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, 16 July 2018 - The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to an amateur-built helicopter accident that occurred yesterday southeast of Calgary, Alberta. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A18W0098
Collision with wires
Mosquito XE, C-FHEZ
Okotoks, Alberta, 5.5 nm NE
Investigator-in-charge
Fred Burow is a senior operations investigator with the TSB Western Regional Office in Edmonton. Mr. Burow has been with the TSB since January of 2013. Before joining the TSB, Mr. Burow worked at Transport Canada where he gained experience as an inspector for aerodrome safety, air carrier inspections and as a flight operations manager and training pilot for Transport Canada’s Aircraft Services Directorate. Besides extensive fixed-wing aircraft experience, Mr. Burow gained valuable rotary-wing experience with the Canadian Armed Forces 10 Tactical Air Group as a crew commander, flight safety officer, squadron standards officer and as a manager of flight operations at the Canadian Forces Flight Training School.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.