What happened
On 30 March 2012, a Kananaskis Mountain Helicopters Bell 206B helicopter, registered C-GLQI, departed from its Kananaskis/Nakoda base for a scheduled sightseeing tour. The flight, which included one pilot and four passengers, was intended to be a 20-minute Rockies Heritage Tour with an optional stop at Brokenleg Lake.
Roughly 13 minutes into the flight, the aircraft crashed within a steep, snow-covered avalanche corridor in a cirque near Loder Peak, Alberta. While the four passengers were rescued with minor injuries, the pilot died from his injuries approximately five hours after being removed from the wreckage. The search for the aircraft was delayed because the company's flight-following procedures failed to identify that the helicopter had stopped transmitting its satellite position and had not reported its arrival at the intended destination.
The investigation
Investigators found that the aircraft was operating within its weight and center-of-gravity limits and that the weather conditions were suitable for visual flight rules. The investigation focused on the pilot's lack of mountain-flying experience and the company's training oversight. At the time of hire, the pilot had very little recent flight experience and lacked specific training for mountainous terrain.
Evidence suggested the pilot had deviated from the standard, safer route on the eastern side of Loder Peak to a more rugged route on the western side, likely seeking to provide a more thrilling experience for passengers. During the flight, the pilot attempted to cross a mountain ridge at an altitude that did not provide sufficient clearance. The investigation also noted that the helicopter was not equipped with a flight recording system, which limited the ability to reconstruct the exact sequence of events.
Findings
- The pilot operated the aircraft in close proximity to rugged terrain where environmental factors reduced performance margins.
- The pilot experienced visual illusions due to the lack of a true horizon and an apparent higher-than-actual airspeed, leading to control inputs that degraded aircraft performance.
- The aircraft likely experienced a loss of tail-rotor effectiveness or a tail-rotor strike, resulting in an uncontrolled rotation and subsequent collision with the terrain.
- The pilot's minimal mountain-flying training and experience prevented the recognition of significant hazards.
- The pilot was not wearing a helmet, which contributed to the severity of the injuries.
- The company's flight-following procedures were insufficient to detect the aircraft's deviation from the flight plan, delaying rescue efforts.