What happened
On 30 December 2016, an Airbus AS355N operated by Blackcomb Helicopters LP departed from Squamish Airport (CYSE) in British Columbia. The flight was carrying one pilot and one passenger. During the flight, after the aircraft had climbed above the freezing level, the pilot encountered difficulties maintaining control of the helicopter.
Despite these challenges, the pilot managed to steer the aircraft back toward Squamish Airport. As the helicopter descended on final approach and moved back below the freezing level, the flight controls returned to their normal operating state. The pilot successfully completed the landing without any further complications.
The investigation
An initial examination of the aircraft was conducted following the event. This preliminary assessment did not identify any visible damage or mechanical anomalies on the Airbus AS355N.