ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 83210
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| Date: | Tuesday 26 March 2002 |
| Time: | 11:15 |
| Type: |  Aérospatiale AS 350D Astar |
| Owner/operator: | Bighorn Helicopters Inc. |
| Registration: | C-FBHX |
| MSN: | 1428 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1981 |
| Engine model: | Avco Lycoming LTS-101-600A-3 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | South Racehorse Creek Weather Station,12nm NW of Blairmore,Alberta -
 Canada
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Blairmore, Alberta |
| South Racehorse Creek Weather Station, Alberta | |
| Investigating agency: | TSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
The helicopter was contracted by Alberta Environment to transport two technicians to service two weather stations in the Crowsnest Pass area. Accompanying the technicians were a reporter and a cameraman from a Lethbridge television station. The pilot departed the company home base at Cranbrook, British Columbia, at 08:30 mountain standard time (MST), and flew to Blairmore, Alberta, where he picked up four passengers. The flight departed Blairmore at about 09:30 MST for the Allison Pass weather station.
After the tasks at Allison Pass were completed, the helicopter then flew to the South Racehorse Creek weather station 12 nautical miles north west of Blairmore, Alberta. Elevation at the station site is about 6,300 feet above sea level (asl). Following a reconnaissance flight to assess the wind and other conditions at the intended landing area on the east side of a mountain, the pilot decided to take two passengers into the site at a time. He dropped two passengers off at a cut block at the base of the mountain and flew the other two passengers back to the station.
Because there was no flat place to land, the pilot "toed" the front of the helicopter skids onto the mountainside and kept the helicopter under power as the passengers disembarked, then departed down the mountain for the other two passengers.
On the second approach to the station site, there were variable winds and the helicopter's airspeed indications were erratic. Just before landing, when at a height of 50 to 75 feet above the trees and slowing to hover speed, a gust lifted the helicopter. The pilot lowered the collective to maintain the descent, but the helicopter then suddenly began to descend at an excessive rate.
The pilot aborted the approach and turned left down the slope away from the mountain. He reportedly did not raise the collective, but noticed that the main rotor rpm was indicating in the yellow arc (below normal operating range) on the tachometer. The low rotor warning horn sounded momentarily after the turn, but stopped when the pilot lowered the collective slightly. He then raised the collective to increase power for a climb and the engine accelerated, but the helicopter continued to descend. It settled into the trees and came to rest in deep snow, laying on its right side facing north.
The television cameraman in the right rear seat recorded the accident sequence from after the turn until an impact dislodged the camera and it departed the helicopter. Total time of the recording was about five seconds.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. CADORS 2002C0313
2. TSB Aviation Investigation Report A02W0057
3. http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2002/a02w0057/a02w0057.asp
4. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://coptercrazy.brinkster.net/search/se350show.asp?start=401&count=50]
5. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=50215
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 3 May 1995 | N900PH | Liberty Helicopter | 0 | Sea Bright, NJ |  |
sub |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 08-Dec-2010 00:59 | slowkid | Added |
| 10-Jul-2014 22:47 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Cn, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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