What Happens When a Helicopter Loses a Rotor Blade

[pelmet]

C-GLMX, a privately registered Bell 206L-1 (LongRanger II) helicopter, was preparing for a flight
from Little Parker Island (CBK9), BC, to the Villa Eyrie Resort on Vancouver Island, BC, with 1 pilot
and 3 passengers on board.

A pre-flight walkaround was conducted and the main rotor blade tie-
down was released from the marine cleat located on the helipad. The pilot and passengers
boarded the helicopter and the pilot proceeded with a normal engine start. As the engine speed
increased to 60% for the gas generator (N1) and the main rotor blades accelerated, a main rotor
blade departed the helicopter near the blade root and the pilot immediately shut down the engine.

The rotor blade was recovered with the tie-down strap attached to the tip of the blade. The main
rotor continued rotating with 1 intact rotor blade attached and the imbalance violently rocked the
helicopter off the helipad and over the adjacent embankment. The helicopter came to rest on the
shoreline on its right side, partially submerged in shallow water.

The front left passenger was ejected from the helicopter beside the helipad while the 3 remaining
occupants were retained intheir seats and able to egress through the left doors of the helicopter
once all motion stopped. The pilot and the front left passenger were seriously injured and airlifted
to hospital. The rear 2passengers were not injured. The 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter (ELT)
was activatedduring the occurrence and the signal was received by the Joint Rescue Coordination
Centre. Theaircraft was substantially damaged.

The helicopter was recovered and taken to the owner’s hangar where the damage will be
assessed.

[Bug_Stomper_01]

A private machine and a stupid mistake. Things like that can be very unforgivable

[AirFrame]

Thankfully all that happened was inertia. If they'd been able to get off the ground, they would have found that gravity happens too.