What happened
On 15 August 1999, a Eurocopter AS3COBA departed from an airport near Squamish, British Columbia, to perform a 30-minute sightseeing tour. The flight, operated by A.A.L. Air Alps Ltd., carried the pilot and four passengers toward a glacier and Lake Lovely Water. Following a period of no communication, a search was initiated by company personnel and later by the rescue coordination centre.
The wreckage was discovered the following day, approximately three nautical miles west of Squamish Airport. The investigation determined that the aircraft struck a rock formation in a steep, narrow ravine at roughly 3,800 feet above sea level. The impact occurred at low speed, causing the helicopter to break apart and tumble approximately 300 feet down the ravine. The pilot and all four passengers were fatally injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical condition and the pilot's background. The pilot had significant experience in fixed-wing aircraft but relatively limited experience in helicopters, with only 300 hours of helicopter flight time and 145 hours on the Eurocopter AS350 type. A medical examination found no evidence of physiological incapacitation.
Technical analysis of the wreckage showed no signs of mechanical failure or engine malfunction prior to the impact. However, the investigation noted that the pilot's perspective of the rotor clearance was different from his formative training on a Bell 47, as the seat position in the Eurocopter AS350 requires more distance to clear obstacles on the left side.
Environmental factors were also scrutinized. At the time of the accident, the area was experiencing a cold front with rain and low cloud ceilings. While the company's air operator certificate allowed for certain visibility minimums, the investigation found that visibility at the crash site was approximately 75 feet, well below the required standards for the operation.
Findings
- The helicopter was operating in weather conditions that fell below the minimum visibility requirements for sightseeing operations.
- The main rotor blades struck a rock formation while the pilot was maneuvering the aircraft at low speed in poor visibility.
- The pilot lacked sufficient experience in helicopter operations and was operating without effective oversight or regulatory safeguards.
- The pilot's previous training on a different aircraft type created a different perception of the distance needed to clear obstacles.
- The emergency locator transmitter was destroyed upon impact, preventing any signal from being received.