Decision to fly as weather worsened led to crash: TSB
Licensed helicopter pilot, his wife, two of their children died on Jan. 1, 2021
A 2021 helicopter crash in northern Alberta that killed a husband, wife and two of their children was caused by pilot decision-making amid deteriorating weather, according to a Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) report.
At 7:54 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2021, a helicopter crashed into a farmer's field in Birch Hills County area near Eaglesham 13 minutes after taking off from a farm.
TSB investigators say mist and light snow, along with the difficulties of night-time flight, played a part in the tragedy.
“It is likely that, shortly after departure, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather consisting of surface-based layers and/or low cloud and poor visibility,” the report reads.
“It is also likely that the pilot did not see the approaching weather given that it was night, and that he had inadvertently entered the low-level cloud.”
RCMP later identified those onboard as Wade Balisky, the owner of the helicopter, along with his wife, Aubrey, and two of the couple's five children.
The report states Balisky was properly licensed to fly the fourseater Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Raven II, though it was not equipped with all the required instrumentation for night flight under Canadian Aviation Regulations.
“The pilot departed into weather that was forecast to be below the limits required for a night visual flight rules flight and, as a result, there were limited external visual cues available to the pilot during the flight.”
Investigators said Balisky was asked about the suitability of the weather ahead of the flight home and said it would be fine after checking an app on his phone.
“When asked by a family member about weather conditions for the occurrence flight, the pilot was positive and did not voice any concern,” the report reads.
“The decision to depart for the occurrence flight was likely a result of the pilot's mental model that weather conditions were suitable based on his assessment of the weather products he accessed.”
The TSB characterized the accident as “not survivable.”