What happened
On 7 October 2025, a Bell 214B-1 helicopter, operated by Black Tusk Helicopter Inc., departed Squamish Municipal Airport, British Columbia, for a slinging mission. Flying under visual flight rules, the pilot intended to transport cargo from Henriette Lake back to Squamish.
Upon arriving at the pickup location, the pilot coordinated with ground personnel to attach a 4,700-pound load to a 125-foot longline. During the initial attempt to lift the weight, the cargo hook malfunctioned and opened, causing the load to detach. After the ground crew reattached the cargo, a second lift attempt was initiated. As the load reached a height of roughly five feet, the helicopter suffered a loss of engine power. This power loss caused the aircraft to descend, resulting in the load hitting the ground. The helicopter subsequently drifted to the right and struck the sloped shoreline, landing on its right side. The impact caused a main rotor blade to strike the tail boom, which severed the tail gearbox from the airframe.
Following the crash, no signal was detected from the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter. However, a nearby helicopter issued a Mayday call, prompting a response from a Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue unit. The pilot sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components following the accident. During the removal of the engine, the investigation identified significant damage to the compressor section. Specifically, investigators discovered loose compressor blades within the compressor section.