Occurrence
On 7 October 2025, a Bell 214B-1 helicopter operated by Black Tusk Helicopter Inc. departed Squamish Municipal Airport, British Columbia, under visual flight rules to conduct slinging operations from Henriette Lake to Squamish. The pilot was the sole occupant.
Upon reaching the pickup site, radio contact was established with the lead person on the ground, and the crew attached a 4700-pound load to a 125-foot longline. As the pilot began to lift the load, the cargo hook opened, and the load detached. The ground crew reattached the load, and a second lift was attempted. When the load reached approximately five feet above the ground, the helicopter descended due to a loss of engine power, and the load struck the ground. The helicopter then moved to the right and collided with terrain on the sloped shoreline, coming to rest on its right side. One of the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, separating the tail gearbox from the body.
No emergency locator transmitter signal was received by the Canadian Mission Control Centre. A nearby company helicopter transmitted a Mayday call that was relayed to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria, BC, and a Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue helicopter responded.
Investigation
The pilot sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was substantially damaged. A team of investigators deployed to the site, and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating.
As of November 2025, the investigation has revealed the following:
- During engine removal, loose compressor blades were found in the compressor section.
- The compressor was substantially damaged.
- Survivability: the pilot shoulder harness was not worn, and the pilot's helmet came off during the accident.