FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Bell 212 Heli-Ski Accident Near Whistler, British Columbia

Spearhead Glacier, British Columbia, CA

On February 11, 2005, a Bell 212 (Helicopter) C-GEEC operated by Tasman Helicopters Ltd. was involved in an aviation accident near Spearhead Glacier, British Columbia, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Given the helicopter's gross weight, its close proximity to the glacier, and the strong downflowing winds, the helicopter was not able to climb high enough to clear the surrounding terrain. This summary draws on records from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB)Primary reportUpdated 2026-10-18Data APIEditorial standards

A Bell 212 helicopter (C-GEEC) crashed during a heli-ski operation near Whistler, BC, after settling with power in strong downflowing winds. All occupants escaped with minor injuries.

Incident Overview and Location On a heli-ski day near Whistler, British Columbia, a Bell 212 helicopter, registration C-GEEC and serial number 30931, was operating on the Spearhead Glacier. After dropping two groups of skiers and guides at the top of the glacier, the pilot planned to pick up the first group near the glacier’s toe. The accident occurred near the bottom of the glacier at approximately 6,300 feet above sea level, at coordinates 50°02′30″ N / 122°51′45″ W. The glacier lies east of Blackcomb Peak and on the northwest side of an upper ridge, with its toe having receded in recent years, making access to the usual pickup area more difficult.

Probable cause

Given the helicopter's gross weight, its close proximity to the glacier, and the strong downflowing winds, the helicopter was not able to climb high enough to clear the surrounding terrain. When the pilot aborted the departure, the helicopter settled with power onto the snow, dug in, and rolled over.

Related events

Same operator

More accident analyses