Occurrence
On 1 October 2017, at 1530 Pacific Daylight Time, a Robinson R44 helicopter operated by ASAP Avionics Services Ltd. departed from Campbell River Airport, British Columbia, on a company indoctrination flight with two pilots on board. At 1548, the helicopter returned to the airport to conduct hovering manoeuvres near the runway. At approximately 1554, the helicopter began to spin to the right, and control was lost. At approximately 1555, the helicopter collided with trees 1.2 nautical miles northwest of the threshold of Runway 12.
Injuries and Response
The pilot seated in the left seat sustained fatal injuries, and the pilot seated in the right seat sustained serious injuries. The surviving pilot called 911 using a personal cellphone. There was no post-impact fire, and no dangerous goods were on board. The emergency locator transmitter activated, but its signal was not heard until approximately 80 minutes after the helicopter impacted terrain.
Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) investigated the occurrence. The investigation was classified as a Class 4 investigation, which is limited in scope and does not contain findings or recommendations. No probable cause was stated.