Aviation investigation A12P0079

Helicopter crash near Terrace, BC

The occurrence

On the morning of 01 June 2012, at approximately 0752 Pacific Daylight Time, a Eurocopter AS-350 B2 helicopter operated by Bailey Helicopters Ltd. took off from Terrace, British Columbia, to perform a mountain training flight. Two pilots and one aircraft maintenance engineer were on board. At approximately 0841, the helicopter impacted the side of a mountain valley and crashed in deep snow, at about 4500 feet above sea level.

The three occupants were fatally injured and the aircraft was destroyed in the crash; no post-impact fire occurred. The 406 megahertz emergency locator transmitter emitted a signal.

The TSB has deployed a team of investigators to the site. Led by the Investigator-in-Charge Glen Friesen, the team is currently collecting information as part of the field phase of its investigation.

Photos

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Transportation Safety Board investigation process

There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation:

1. Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
2. 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.
3. 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.