Loss of control during toe-in
West Coast Helicopters Ltd
Hughes 369D (helicopter), C-GHFL
Campbell River Airport (CYBL), British Columbia, 47 NM NNW
The occurrence
On 14 July 2026, a West Coast Helicopters Limited Hughes 369D helicopter departed from Stafford Lake Logging Camp, British Columbia — located on the northwest end of Loughborough Inlet — under visual flight rules. The pilot and two passengers were on board, en route to a remote forested site. The passengers were forestry engineers who were tasked with surveying the area for logging. After identifying a steep landslide area near the intended survey location, the pilot flew up the slope and identified a potential toe-in landing spot.
After discussing its suitability, the pilot positioned the front of the left skid (the toe) of the helicopter on the terrain near a fallen tree and two stacked rocks. The pilot began to yaw the helicopter to the right to place the right toe on the terrain. Suddenly, the helicopter dropped and began to vibrate. The pilot instructed the passengers to evacuate, but control was lost. The helicopter rolled down the slope, breaking apart before the main cabin section came to rest in a landslide approximately 300 feet down the slope from the attempted toe-in site. The aircraft was destroyed.
The emergency locator transmitter was activated, and a handheld radio was used to alert the camp and request assistance. The Canadian Armed Forces' Search and Rescue team (SAR) dispatched a Cormorant helicopter, which arrived on scene approximately two hours after the accident. One passenger was hoisted to safety and taken to hospital with serious injuries. The pilot and the other passenger were fatally injured and were recovered by SAR. The TSB is investigating.
Media materials
Investigation information
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Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 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.