Pilot safely lands powerless helicopter in remote Labrador

A Universal helicopter contracted by the Newfoundland and Labrador government made an emergency landing in southern Labrador Monday due to engine failure. 

The helicopter was providing service between Charlottetown and Norman Bay, which has no road access, around midday when it lost power.

The helicopter service is used during for a few weeks when needed in the winter, when the ferry is unable to run due to ice. 

A pilot performed an emergency landing about 3.6 nautical miles northeast of Charlottetown.

Neither the lone passenger nor the pilot was hurt during the landing.

"[The pilot] landed close to a swampy bog area that was covered by snow," said Universal Helicopters President Shane Cyr. 

Company investigating

"It was really well done by the pilot. He did an exceptional job landing the aircraft without power."

The pilot then called the company's base in Goose Bay, and Universal sent another aircraft and brought maintenance engineers to the site.

Cyr said it's unknown why there was an engine failure and the investigation will continue.

The helicopter will either be fixed at the site or will be attached to another helicopter and flown back to base, Cyr said. 

Aside from the engine failure, the helicopter was not damaged during the landing. 

Cyr said the company notified Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board.