What happened
On a daylight flight in September 2016, a Bell 206B helicopter, registered C-FWHF, was returning to a remote base camp located 3.6 nautical miles south-southeast of Deception Mountain, British Columbia. The aircraft was operating at an elevation of 4,100 feet above sea level with the pilot alone on board.
As the helicopter approached a service pad at approximately 13:58 Pacific Daylight Time, the pilot noticed a fluctuation in power. To avoid nearby trees, the pilot attempted a straight-in approach using cyclic and collective inputs. During these maneuvers, the aircraft reached an extreme nose-high attitude. Following an audible popping or banging sound, various pieces of debris detached from the aircraft. The helicopter then entered a left-hand rotation and descent, ultimately hitting the ground roughly 200 feet northeast of the intended service pad.
Personnel at the base camp observed the accident and contacted emergency services. The pilot sustained serious injuries and required evacuation via air ambulance. While the helicopter suffered substantial damage, no fire occurred after the impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the terrain collision, specifically examining the mechanical behavior of the aircraft during the power fluctuation and the subsequent structural failure indicated by the separation of debris.