ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 23054
Last updated: 19 June 2013
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| Date: | 26-APR-1996 |
| Time: | 1309 UTC |
| Type: |  Eurocopter AS 350BA |
| Operator: | Canadian Helicopters Limited |
| Registration: | C-GRGK |
| C/n / msn: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | McCulloch Creek, British Columbia -
 Canada
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Survey |
| Departure airport: | Golden, British Columbia |
| Golden, British Columbia |
The pilot departed the operator's Revelstoke base in the AS-350BA helicopter at 0750 mountain daylight time (MDT) on Friday, 26 April 1996, and flew to the operator's base at Golden, British Columbia, to refuel and pick up two passengers. The three then departed Golden at 0900 MDT to begin a planned visual flight rules (VFR) flight to undertake snow-sampling operations at various locations in the mountainous area between Golden and Revelstoke. The helicopter did not return to Golden at the expected time, and the operator's base-pilot in Golden commenced an aerial search in the other company helicopter. The Kamloops flight service station specialist contacted the Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria to advise them of the overdue aircraft. Search and rescue aircraft were dispatched from Canadian Forces Base Comox shortly thereafter and flew to the search area. After an extensive civilian and military search, the wreckage of the missing helicopter was found at about 1030 MDT the following day. The helicopter had crashed in mountainous terrain at about 6,200 feet above sea level; the three occupants were fatally injured and the helicopter destroyed. There was no fire.
The engine flamed out, likely as a result of snow ingestion. It could not be determined why the helicopter struck trees during autorotative descent. Contributing to the accident were the inhospitable terrain and likely adverse weather conditions.
Sources:
1996P0155
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/en/reports/air/1996/a96p0064/a96p0064.asp
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
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