What happened
On a recent afternoon near Cultus Lake, British Columbia, an AS 350 B3 helicopter, operated by Air Five for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, was involved in a fatal accident. The aircraft, registered C-FMPOG, departed from an open field located on the outskirts of Chilliwack.
Shortly after takeoff, the pilot maneuvered the helicopter approximately 260 feet north and entered a hover at an altitude of roughly 80 feet. During this 30-second hover, an audible noise and a cloud of grey and white vapor emerged from the engine compartment. This was immediately followed by a significant drop in rotor RPM. The aircraft lost lift and descended rapidly, striking the snow-covered ground with great force. The impact caused the fuselage to collapse and the fuel tank to rupture, though no fire broke out following the crash. The pilot sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
Investigators focused on the moments leading up to the loss of rotor power. The investigation established that the emergency locator transmitter successfully activated and was picked up by the search and rescue satellite system. The site of the accident was located at an elevation of approximately 650 feet above sea level.