The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has dispatched a team of investigators to the scene of a helicopter accident near Squamish, British Columbia. The incident involving a Bell 214 B1 helicopter carrying an external load occurred around 9:30 a.m. PT on Tuesday.
Following the crash near Henriette Lake, B.C. Emergency Health Services received notification just before 10 a.m. The injured individual was airlifted to Vancouver International Airport and then transferred to a hospital in serious condition after being attended to by critical-care paramedics.
Squamish Search and Rescue, alongside the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), successfully located and rescued the sole occupant, the injured pilot of the downed helicopter. Authorities are collaborating with the TSB and WorkSafeBC to ascertain the cause of the accident.
Woodfibre LNG, in a statement, mentioned that the helicopter, operated by a contractor performing maintenance work near the Henriette Dam, was involved in the crash. The company emphasized that the dam’s integrity remains unaffected, and the cause of the incident is yet to be confirmed.
Luke Schauerte, the CEO of Woodfibre, expressed concern for the injured individual and their family, underscoring the priority of safety for everyone involved in their operations.
TSB spokesperson Chris Krepski indicated that they are awaiting further details upon the investigators’ arrival at the crash site as they work to establish more information about the incident. The TSB’s mandate is to investigate transportation accidents comprehensively without assigning blame or determining liability, with the primary goal of enhancing safety measures.
The Woodfibre LNG facility, situated on the traditional lands of the Squamish Nation near Squamish, is slated for completion by 2027. Once operational, the facility is expected to produce approximately 2.1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually for export purposes.