What happened
On October 26, 2015, an Airbus AS350B2 helicopter, bearing registration C-GSLY, collided with terrain in the Franklin Bluffs, approximately 29 miles south of Deadhorse, Alaska. The flight was being operated by Great Slave Helicopters Limited to transport four seismic workers to a remote landing site.
Prior to the flight, the pilot performed a risk assessment that identified the area as prone to whiteout conditions, noting visibility between 1 and 3 statute miles. Despite this, the assessment was categorized as "low risk go flying," and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. During the flight, the pilot encountered flat light conditions over snow-covered ground. In an attempt to manage the deteriorating weather, the pilot slowed the aircraft and maintained a low altitude.
As the helicopter slowed for landing, the downwash from the main rotor disturbed blowing snow, creating whiteout conditions that eliminated all ground references. During this period, the right skid of the aircraft contacted the ground, causing the helicopter to slide and roll onto its right side. The impact resulted in no injuries to the pilot, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, tail boom, and main rotor system.
The investigation
Investigators determined that the pilot held a Canadian commercial pilot license but lacked an instrument rating. The aircraft was not equipped with a radar altimeter or a ground proximity warning system, and it was not capable of operating under instrument flight rules. The pilot reported that no mechanical failures or engine malfunctions occurred prior to the impact.