History of the Flight
On a visual flight rules flight from Whitecourt, Alberta, to Drayton Valley Industrial Airport, Alberta, a Rotorworks Inc. Bell 206B helicopter (registration C-FHTT, serial number 1042) encountered instrument meteorological conditions and continued into them. The aircraft collided with terrain approximately 1 nautical mile south of the destination airport at 1820 Mountain Daylight Time, during daylight hours. There was no post-crash fire. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. No emergency locator transmitter signal was received by search and rescue authorities.
Two days prior to the occurrence flight, the pilot had attempted a similar flight but returned due to deteriorating weather. A second successful flight was completed the afternoon of the day before the accident. On the occurrence flight, the pilot deviated from the planned routing for reasons that could not be determined. The pilot did not contact Edmonton Area Control Centre for assistance. Although the pilot had expressed concern about possible icing, the investigation discounted this due to the impact signature.
During the descent through cloud, the pilot maintained control of the rotorcraft but lost awareness of height above ground and did not arrest the rate of descent before impact. Disorientation or loss of situational awareness may have played a role.
The pilot was not wearing the available shoulder harnesses or a helmet. The extent to which the harnesses might have contributed to the injuries could not be determined; the severity of impact forces likely made a helmet irrelevant.
Findings as to Causes and Contributing Factors
The pilot continued the visual flight rules flight into weather conditions that required descent through cloud to reach destination. The pilot did not arrest the rate of descent, resulting in a collision with terrain in which the impact forces were not survivable.
Findings as to Risk
Not wearing the available shoulder harnesses or a helmet increases the risk of severe injury or death.
Other Findings
The emergency locator transmitter switch was found in the off position. There was no indication of an aircraft system malfunction. Rotorworks Inc. pilots had received human factors and pilot decision-making training since the accident.