Definitely an interesting story for the explosives guys to tell over dinner. Glad no one was hurt. Imagine trying to get the heck out of there before a potential avalanche is triggered......
C-GWTQ, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3 helicopter, operated by Kootenay Valley Helicopters
was conducting avalanche control operations with 1 pilot and 2 avalanche technicians on board.
The operation consisted of dropping strategically placed explosive charges onto the slope from a
height of approximately 20 feet.
They were operating at an elevation of about 7000' ASL, about a
hundred feet below a mountain slope ridgeline. The sparsely treed mountain side was covered in
snow and ice. Very shortly after the technician released a charge, the helicopter encountered an
area of reduced visibility. The pilot lost visual reference and the tail rotor contacted the sloping
terrain or a tree. The helicopter shuddered and the pilot immediately performed a forced landing.
The helicopter descended, impacted the hard snow pack and rolled over. In the process, the tail
boom was struck and partially severed by the main rotor blades.
The helicopter came to rest onto
its side, approximately 25 feet from the explosive charge that had been released. The explosive
detonated about a minute and a half after the forced landing but did not trigger a release of the
snow pack. All occupants were able to extricate themselves from the wreckage and the pilot
secured the electrical and fuel systems.
The two avalanche technicians accounted for and
recovered all remaining explosive charges from the helicopter. Using portable radios, they
contacted a nearby skiing operation and a helicopter operator to arrange for transportation off the
mountain. The ELT activated and the signal was received by the Canadian Mission Control Centre
who relayed to information the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria, BC. Search and
rescue personnel were not deployed to the site. The helicopter has been removed from the mountain.
Avalanche Control Helicopter Crash
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore
Re: Avalanche Control Helicopter Crash
Must be the first time in their career they were happy an explosion did not trigger an avalanche 
As an AvCanada discussion grows longer:
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
-the probability of 'entitlement' being mentioned, approaches 1
-one will be accused of using bad airmanship
