BLACKFALDS - Blackfalds helicopter operator Mustang Helicopters is promising complete transparency to investigators and industry after one of its helicopters had a rough landing at the Gap provincial forestry fire base near Coleman, Alta. on Aug. 26.
"We, as much as anyone, want to know exactly what the cause was," said Mustang Helicopters' VP of operations Tim Boyle.
"Anything we know or find out will be shared."
According to Boyle, the pilot and the four Alberta Forestry employees who were onboard were taken to hospital as a precaution, but all were released without injuries.
Contrary to reports in national news sources, the helicopter did not tip over but "remained upright on its landing gear," said Boyle.
The helicopter did, however, miss the landing pad due to a possible mechanical failure and landed in a nearby field.
Boyle credited the "highly-skilled pilot" for bringing the helicopter to the ground safely.
As per standard procedure, the pilot underwent a medical evaluation and after being released and debriefed, received further training and has returned to work.
The incident is under investigation by the Transportation Safety Board and Occupational Health and Safety.
According to Boyle, components of the helicopter were sent for inspection to try to determine the cause of the trouble.
"We are suspecting a mechanical failure so that is why we're sending the components," he said.
The parts will be tested in a controlled laboratory setting.
Boyle said an independent accident investigator from Alberta Forestry and a senior representative of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development visited Mustang Helicopters the day after the incident and were "very pleased" with how the company was handling the investigation.
An estimate of the damage to the helicopter has not yet been completed.
Mustang Helicopters has been operating for 10 years (four at their current site just outside of Blackfalds off of the QEII, and previously at the Red Deer Regional Airport) and has a "very good safety record," said Boyle.
Boyle said a helicopter is a piece of equipment that is designed, built and operated by humans and is therefore subject to human error.
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